Maoists are political prisoners: Court ruling

Barasat, Aug 16 (UNI) A court today ruled that a CPI (Maoist) leader facing charges should be accorded a political prisoner status, as the party was not banned by the state government.

The ruling came from an additional district and session judge of the Fast Track 1st Court here in North 24 Parganas on a petition filed on behalf of the accused CPI(I) Maoist leader, Somen alias Himadri Sen Roy, who was now in judicial remand.

He was arrested on February 23 from Hridaypur railway station by the slueths of Criminal Investigation Department..

Judge Baidyanath Bhaduri, after a couple of hearings on the appeal filed on July 21 before the District Judge, North 24 Parganas, against the Chief Judicial Magistrate court order rejecting the plea of according status of the political prisoner to Somen, directed the State Government to treat the accuse as a political prisoner.

Advocate Mallinath Gangopadhyay appeared for Somen.

Himadri Sen Roy alias Somen, a former People's War Group secretary has been accsued of waging wars against the state. He was allegedly involved in militant activities in West Midnapur and Purulia's Jungle Mahal where a number of police and para-military personnel besides ruling political party activities were killed.

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