SC: Binayak Sen freed, fears danger to his life

A day after the Supreme Court granted him bail, controversial civil rights activist and national vice-president of the People’s Union for Civil Liberty (PUCL), Dr Binayak Sen, was released from the Raipur Central Jail this evening.

Dr Sen, who was facing trial for the last couple of years on charges of aiding and abetting Maoist activities in Chhattisgarh, was set free on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh.

Besides his family members, a large number of human rights activists, who had launched a nation-wide movement for release of the leader, were present outside the jail to greet Dr Sen.

Talking to waiting journalists soon after his release, Dr Sen said, ‘I fear danger to my life from the Chhattisgarh government. I have also told the trial court.’ On his release, Dr Sen said, ‘Now, I am happy to be released on bail after spending two years of tensed life in jail. The apex court has finally granted me bail after it was earlier rejected by the Sessions Court, Chhattisgarh High Court and Supreme Court. I myself and my counsels still don’t know as to why my bail pleas were being dismissed.’ Replying to a question, Dr Sen demanded that the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act of 2005 should be scrapped and the ‘so-called’ anti-Naxalite Salwa Judum movement in the state be banned immediately.

‘It is not only me, various legal forum have vehemently opposed this ‘oppressive’ Act and the Salwa Judum movement,’ he said.