Human Rights activists rally behind arrested Chhattisgarh doctor

New Delhi, May 17 (UNI) Civil Liberties and Human Rights activists today rallied behind Chhattisgarh doctor Binayak Sen, arrested for alleged links with banned Maoists insurgents, and demanded immediate withdrawal of the case against him.

The activists, including former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Rajinder Sachar, writer Arundhati Roy, Lawyer Prashat Bhushan, Harish Dhawan and Kavita Srivastava, under the banner of People's Union for Civil Liberties today met Home Minister Shivraj Patil and held a demonstration against the ''unlawful'' arrest.

Arrested on May 14, Dr Sen, Chhattisgarh People's Union for Civil Liberties General Secretary, is facing charges under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act 2005 and the Central law the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2004.

The activists, who submitted a memorandum to the Home Minister accused the Chhattisgarh Government of ''vengeful arrest'' of Dr Binayak Sen.

''Dr Sen has been consistently raising his voice against state atrocities in the context of Salwa Judum, especially the series of fake encounters that have taken place in Chhattisgarh over the past few months,'' the memorandum said.

Addressing a press conference, Justice Sachar said the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act 2005 had been framed to target human rights activists working on dalit issues, forest and tribal rights.

''By invoking provisions of the Act against Dr Sen, the state Government has made its intentions clear on targeting and silencing human rights activists who are raising their voice against systemic state repression as part of the Salwa Judum,'' he added.

Condemning the arrest, Ms Roy claimed that democracy in India was going through a ''dangerous era'' where ''civil rights'' of people were being suppressed''.

''We are in a dangerous era where all issues has only one solution police and military intervention... which is condemnable,'' she added.

The memorandum demanded that the laws under which the pediatrician is arrested be repealed as ''they are used to gainst Human Rights activists.'' An impartial probe should be conducted into excesses committed against the tribal people of Chhattisgarh as part of the Salwa Judum and more specifically the fake encounters and killing of innocent tribals in Dantewada district.

UNI