Withdraw charges against Binayak Sen: Rights group

A group of human rights organisations have decided to launch a mass movement to demand withdrawal of the charges against Binayak Sen.

A group of human rights organisations have decided to launch a mass movement to demand withdrawal of the charges against noted rights activist Binayak Sen,accused by the Chhattisgarh government of having links with Naxals,and release of political prisoners in West Bengal and Jharkhand.

“Binayak Sen is not actually free as he was released on bond. The charges against him remain. We demand withdrawal of all the charges against him,” Deboprasad Roychowhdhury,secretary of Association of People for Democratic Rights,told a press conference in Kolkata on Thursday.

Sen was released from jail on surety of Rupees one lakh by the Chattisgarh High Court although the Supreme Court had only asked for a personal bond,he pointed out.

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Accusing the Chattisgarh Government of illegally arming the Salwa Judum,he alleged that members of the organisation were killing tribals,evicting them and holding them prisoners in camps at their will.

Claiming that there were 10,000 political prisoners in West Bengal as of date,he said 49 of them had been given life imprisonment.

“We will hold a convention here on June 15. From there we will decide how to build up a mass movement,” he said. The proposed mass movement would also demand release of such prisoners,Roychowdhury said.

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