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Since
May 15, 2007, Binayak Sen, a distinguished Indian
paediatrician and a tireless human rights activist has
been imprisoned in a Raipur jail in the state of
Chhattisgarh, India. He has been convicted of no crime
but is being held under draconian state laws for his
alleged association with the Naxalites an outlawed
Indian communist movement, deemed to be a threat to
national security. To date, there is no proof of his
involvement in extremist activities but he remains
incarcerated for supplementary charges indefi nitely.
Sen and his wife, Ilina, have devoted their entire
working lives to improve the health and welfare of the
Adivasis, a marginalised and poverty-stricken tribal
population. Violent confl ict has prevailed in the
region and Sen’s relentless exposure of the state’s
human rights violations of this community are widely
believed to be the real reas on for his imprisonment: to
set an example to others who would dare to expose state
brutality and defend civil liberties. A troubling
fallout of his incarceration is that much of his good
work is slowly being eroded. His clinic, which provided
essential health services, is on the verge of collapse,
and many patients with both acute and chronic illnesses
have gone untreated. The worldwide condemnation of his
arrest and calls for his release continue to fall on
deaf ears. Of grave concern now are reports that Sen’s
health is deteriorating and that access to necessary
medical care is being delayed. The right to life is a
basic human right under the constitution of India. Every
state functionary is obliged to protect the l
ife of a detainee in custody and ensure proper medical
treatment for him or her as and when required.
It is outrageous that Sen has now been in prison for
almost 2 years in a prolonged trial that keeps shifting
charges which are unclear and possibly politically
motivated. Faith in the Indian justice system needs to
be restored. The Indian Government must intervene and
make sure justice is done, so that Sen and his family
can return to a normal life and resume serving the
poorest communities in the state.
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