UPDATE ON DR. BINAYAK SEN 19th May

UPDATE ON DR. BINAYAK SEN

Binayak was produced in the court of the Judicial Magistrate by the police on May 18. The public prosecutor argued for a police remand. This would have meant shifting him out of Raipur Central Jail to a police station. Appearing on behalf of Binayak, Adv. Sudha Bharadwaj argued against a police remand and for continuation of the judicial custody. A bail application made earlier had been rejected. The good news is that the Judge, after keeping everybody in suspense for a number of hours (which Binayak spent in the company of his friends and the police under a tree outside the court), rejected the police’s request for a police remand.

Ilina and their two young daughters Pranhita and Aparijita arrived from West Bengal yesterday, but have been unable to access their house since it is sealed. All of them have shown remarkable composure. Ilina has conveyed her feelings of being overwhelmed by the support and solidarity shown by all the friends at Delhi, Vellore and here in Chhattisgarh.

His friends say that Binayak appeared to be in good spirits. He was pleased to know all the news about the protests. He is sharing a 10x12 room with 13 other inmates at the jail, but had no complaints about it, as he felt that he was being treated well. The police will be searching their house tomorrow.

We have submitted the petition with 1184 signatories on May 17 to the President, Prime Minister, Governor of Chhattisgarh and Commissioner of National Human Rights Comission. The petition has been highlighted in both the Hindu and Indian Express. We are submitting a second set of 804 signatures today. Please continue to submit signatures.

Alumni across the world continue to lobby on behalf of Binayak. A meeting will be held in Raipur on May 31 in which all friends from across the country are invited to lend their support to Dr. Binayak Sen.