PHA-Exch> Dr Binayak Sen, India update

[Claudio Schuftan]

    From: Gopal Dabade drdabade at gmail.com


Dr Binayak Sen a practicing medical doctor has been in the Indian jail for
19 months now.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/part-i-laws-dont-affect-his-bail-rights-yet-binayak-sen-in-jail-for-19-months/410061/0

PART I: Laws don't affect his bail rights yet Binayak Sen in jail for 19
months

*Vinay Sitapati
<http://www.indianexpress.com/columnist/vinaysitapati/>*Posted: Jan
13, 2009 at 1439 hrs IST



*New Delhi:* While debating the new anti-terror laws passed in Parliament
last month, Home Minister P Chidambaram acknowledged the need for a "fair
balance" between respecting human rights and tough laws to deal with terror.
That counter-terror measures can hurt individual rights is no idle concern.
The 19-month incarceration of Binayak Sen shows why.

Dr Binayak Sen, a graduate of CMC Vellore and a practising doctor, was
arrested on May 14, 2007 in Bilaspur under the Chhattisgarh Special Public
Safety Act as well as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the
Indian Penal Code.

He is accused of conspiring with, and being a conduit between Naxalites.
Chhattisgarh Director General of Police Vishwa Ranjan admits that Sen is not
a "Naxal terrorist hiding in the forests" but accuses him of giving
"logistical support" to the Naxals — charges that Sen vigorously denies. His
trial began on April 30 last year and 38 prosecution witnesses have so far
been examined.

The sheer length of Sen's incarceration without bail is significant. To
compare: Sanjeev Nanda, prime accused in the BMW hit-and-run case, was given
bail just four months after being arrested. Another eventual convict, Vikas
Yadav — accused of shooting model Jessica Lall in full public view — not
only got anticipatory bail, but after a brief four months in jail, was free
on bail. Yet Sen, accused with evidence that is fast unravelling, has spent
the last 19 months in jail.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/part-ii-witnesses-jail-records-dont-back-state-govts-charge-against-binayak-sen/410517/0

PART II: Witnesses, jail records don't back state govt's charge against
Binayak Sen

*Vinay Sitapati
<http://www.indianexpress.com/columnist/vinaysitapati/>*Posted: Jan
14, 2009 at 1439 hrs IST



http://www.indianexpress.com/news/part3-binayak-sen-case-raises-questions-on-antinaxal-measures/410934/0

Part3: Binayak Sen case raises questions on anti-Naxal measures

*Vinay Sitapati
<http://www.indianexpress.com/columnist/vinaysitapati/>*Posted: Jan
15, 2009 at 1439 hrs IST
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