Summary:
Mumbai, Oct 24 (PTI) Activist Gautam Navlakha, arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, has been shifted to the "Anda Circle" (high-security barracks) in the Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai, his partner Sahba Husain said on Sunday and claimed the 70-year-old"s already fragile health has deteriorated further due to shifting.
In a statement, Husain claimed the activist was shifted to the Anda circle from the regular barracks on October 12 and questioned as to how long will Navlakha be "persecuted for his views and to what extent will the authorities go to break his spirit".
The statement further said the accused in the Elgar Parishad case have had to face indignities and humiliation for the smallest and basic needs in prison.
“In the Anda circle, he is deprived of daily walks in the jail"s non-concreted greener areas and fresh air and his health has deteriorated further, making specialised medical care an absolute necessity, if he is to live to fight this unjust and false case hoisted on him,” Husain said.
“These are prisoners of conscience, who have had to face indignities and humiliation for the smallest needs, and wage court battles for basic dignities in prison,” Husain said referring to the recent incident wherein Navlakha"s spectacles went missing and it was difficult to send him a replacement in time.
“Gautam has faced his unjustified incarceration with courage and spirit.