Nov 23rd,2012
Subject: DNA – Govt not to oppose bail for top Maoist leader

 

In a bid to encourage surrender by Maoist leaders and cadres, the Centre, in consultation with the Jharkhand government, has decided not to oppose the bail plea of former CPI (Maoist) politburo member Sushil Roy on humanitarian grounds.

Terminal ill Roy is suffering from cancer and is currently going through treatment at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi.

The home ministry sources said the decision of not opposing Roy’s bail was taken after some civil rights activists met Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde a week ago and asked for Roy’s release on humanitarian grounds.

Roy, popular as comrade Som, is one of the senior most Maoist leaders and has to his credit overseeing the merger of PWG, Party Unity and Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) into CPI (Maoist) in September 2004. Roy was arrested by West Bengal police on 22 May 2005 and was charged with 11 cases relating to sedition, extortion and waging war against state by West Bengal and Jharkhand governments.

By not opposing Roy bail plea, sources said, the government wants to send a positive signal to all the hardened Maoist leaders and cadres that the government will have a soft approach if they chose to surrender.

Of late, septuagenarian Roy has also advocated ceasefire between government and CPI (Maoist) to pave the way for peace talks.

The government believes that Roy’s case could prove to be a test case and ease out the way for those who now believe that they cannot humble the state through violence and killings but are unable to come out and surrender because of sheer fear.