Ghandy effect: Centre gives tips to states on ferrying high-profile undertrials

Following the experience in the case of Maoist ideologue Kobad Ghandy in which the Delhi police team escorting him to Midnapore had to abort their journey midway after inputs that Maoists may snatch him away on the way,the Union government has sent an advisory to four states on ferrying of high-risk undertrial prisoners (UTP) from Delhi.

In a letter on April 26 sent to chief secretaries and home secretaries of four states — Andhra Pradesh,West Bengal,Punjab and Haryana — Sunil Kumar,a deputy secretary in the Union home ministry,said the risk in ferrying high-profile UTPs from Delhi to these states has increased manifold and so such trips should be minimised and video-conferencing with the accused should be arranged after taking permission from the judges.

The letter also said if the threat is very high in a particular case,journey by air has to be undertaken.

According to state DGP Bhupinder Singh,the state government has already taken the advice. “Recently,one Manipuri militant was caught in Siliguri and he was flown to Kolkata. We are making arrangements in accordance with the threat perception to a particular accused,” Singh said.

In case of Ghandy,it is learnt that the Delhi police is planning to bring him to Bengal by air.