sagar
post news network
Bhubaneswar, March 29: Maoist D Keshav Rao alias Azad, lodged in Jharpada jail here since 2011, along with six others, will go on an indefinite hunger strike from Wednesday seeking speedy trial and recognition as political prisoners.
It will be Azad’s fourth fast inside the jail in the past five years. The last one lasted for a week when his mother D Kamullama came from Srikakulam to persuade him to drop his strike.
Former Khurda collector who had visited the jail assured Azad speedy justice.
Azad, of Nalla Boddulur from Srikakulam district, had surrendered before the then DGP Arvinda Rao in Hyderabad May 18, 2011 after leading a Maoist life for 19 years. However, he was arrested May 28 after nine days’ interrogation by a joint team of AP and Orissa police.
Interestingly, Azad was arrested by Orissa police in connection with the murder of Swami Laxmanananda and Nayagarh Armoury loot case. But Andhra Pradesh government had given him `10 lakh as part of its rehabilitation policy.
Azad and other inmates have put forth five demands before the state government. The demands are speedy trial, a halt to fresh foisting of charges, commencement of trial within three to six months’ of arrest, stoppage of trial of accused in absentia and provision of political prisoner status.
The other inmates, arrested on charges of being Maoists, are: Kamlakant Sethi, Chandrabati Tukuruka, Ranjit Sana, Rabidulla, Kishore Kumar Jena and Ashutosh Sara. The six have been lodged in Jharpada jail for nine years.
Five cases were slapped against Azad after six months of his detention. After four years, police added four more cases against him, and then in 2015, another case was filed. In five years, 10 cases have been filed against Azad.
Azad’s lawyer Kamesar Rao alleged the state prosecutors were delaying court proceedings intentionally. “Several witnesses do not attend cases and taking recourse to law and order, they withhold production of Azad before the court. Sometimes, they simply ask for further dates,” Kamesar told Orissa Post.
Azad said during a meeting with this correspondent he has faith in the judiciary, though he said he regretted his surrender.