Around 500 undertrials, including 45 women political prisoners languishing in the Nagpur Central Jail, have written a memorandum to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) stating that they were being deliberately denied their right to bail.

The signed letter sent to the NHRC on Saturday, citing Supreme Court rulings, states that the apex court has time and again emphasised on the right of the undertrial to be granted bail in cases wherein it is certain that the undertrial will not be jumping the bail or that he or she belongs to a deprived and lower economic class.

However, the reality practised in lower courts as well as by public prosecutors who refuse to budge from their stand and even go to the extent of using all kind of legalese to keep political prisoners inside jail, is contrary to the very essence of justice which judiciary proclaims impart, the letter states.

The inmates of Nagpur Jail urged NHRC to look into the matter as the denial of bail being practised not just in the state but across the country is tantamount to severe human rights violation.

Bandh call in Vidarbha

Banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), for the first time, called for a bandh across Vidarbha last week to highlight the state’s failure in extending assistance to agriculturists in eastern Maharashtra.

Pointing at the excess rain which ravaged Vidarbha this year,  the rebels in a press release issued from Nagpur, stated that in the last four months 200 farmers took their lives to escape the misery.

The reports indicate that the devastation hit nearly 18 lakh hectare farmland and 1.5 lakh houses.The statement apart from bringing to fore the plight of farmers in the region, slammed government for arresting leaders voicing tribal and farmers issues in the region.

The bandh called by CPI -Maoist in Vidarbha was seen to have varying degrees of impact with far-eastern regions like Gadchiroli witnessing a total shut-down; the demands included waiving off loans and interests; additional loans for farmers and other facilities for the families.