Shikha Rahi appeals for arrested father

Dehradun, Dec 27 (UNI) The daughter of journalist Prashant Rahi, who was arrested here recently for his alleged involvement in Maoist activities in Uttarakhand, today alleged that he was framed by police and demanded he be set free immediately.

Shikha Rahi, assistant director of Amir Khan production ''Tare Zameen Pe'', had especially come to Uttarakhand from Mumbai, in her father's defence told mediapersons at Ramnagar in Nainital district that police's intention to frame her father was well evident from the date and place of his arrest.

''While he was picked up by police from Dehradun on December 17, the police record showed his arrest on December 22 from forest area of Rudrapur in Uddhamsingh Nagar district,'' she said.

She maintained that police failed to present her father before a court, 24 hours after his arrest as per the rule. She said the police had shown a laptop from his possession during his arrest.

''In fact he possessed no laptop at all,'' she disclosed and also alleged that her father was roughed up and subjected to third degree torture by police.

Noting her father is a journalist and a social activists who had actively participated in statehood agitation of Uttarakhand and later fought for the cause of Tehri Dam oustees, she said he had been charged under Section 121, 121 A and 124 (Conspiracy to wage war against the State).

''How could such a man who always struggle for common people could be an anti-state person?'', she sought to know .

Prashant Rahi, originally from Maharashtra, had worked in a local English newspaper in Dehradun and worked for 'The Statesman' between 1993 and 2000. He is reportedly a zonal secretary of the Communist Party of India (Maoist).

UNI