Sagar
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, August 27: As many as 221 suspected Maoists are lodged in 21 jails across the state, an RTI reply from the Directorate of Prisons and correctional services has revealed.
More than 70 per cent of such prisoners are tribal and put in jails without charges, Pradipta Nayak, an RTI activist, informed the Orissa Human Rights Commission (OHRC) recently. Nayak alleged trial has not even started in many cases as no chargesheet has been filed.
According to the RTI reply, Malkangiri sub jail has 70 such prisoners, the highest in the state, followed by Koraput circle jail with 45. Of 221 inmates, 199 are men and 22 women having Maoist links who were detained during Operation Green Hunt, a joint operation of paramilitary forces and state police, started in 2009.
The activist claimed the tribal people used to collect NTFPs (non-timber forest produce) for livelihood and move from one place to another.
Six Maoists led by D Keshava Rao alias Azad, an accused in killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, went on fast-unto-death demanding trial for all arrested Maoists.
Rao’s mother D Kammulamma has to come to the city March 27 to convince his son to break his fast. Khurda collector Niranjan Swain had his fast called off after assuring the government will concede to his demand. Azad’s trial, however, is yet to start, his lawyer said.
Orissa Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, an accused in Nayagarh armoury loot, went on fast inside jail in April demanding information about cases pending against him. He has alleged his communication with outside world was not being allowed.
Meanwhile, OHRC has ordered Chief Secretary to submit report within four weeks on the status of 221 prisoners.
When Orissa Post asked IG (prisons) Pradeep Kapoor about the status of the prisoners, he feigned ignorance. When asked about the RTI reply issued from his office, he said he was busy.
The Centre considers ‘Operation Green Hunt’ a media creation. Thus, there is little clarity on the extent of troop deployment, its composition and chain of command between central paramilitary forces and the state police. Two PILs are pending with the Supreme Court since 2007 seeking judicial inquiry into the killings and detention of tribal people in the Operation.
