Mamata criticised over arrest of doctor with `Maoist links`

Kolkata: Activists Saturday termed the West Bengal government "fascist" for arresting a doctor for allegedly having links with slain Maoist leader Kishenji. Litterateur Varavara Rao said he will move court against the killing of Kishenji.

Participating in an event organised by the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP), activists criticised the state government for passing the West Bengal Correctional Services (Amendment) Bill, 2013 which excludes members of banned organisations from getting the status of political prisoners. "It is fascism, he was only a doctor, why should he be arrested," asked Rao, reacting to Wednesday`s arrest of Samir Biswas, a doctor from Asansol in Burdwan district, for his alleged links with Kishenji. "Once we get the forensic reports, we will of course move court," said Rao. Rao has repeatedly claimed that Kishenji was brutally tortured by central forces before being killed in a "staged gun battle". Koteshwara Rao alias Kishenji, a member of the politburo of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), was killed in a shootout with central forces in November 2011 at Burisole forest in West Midnapore district. Sujato Bhadra, a former interlocutor between the state government and the rebels, demanded the release of all political prisoners in the state. He accused Banerjee of "treachery" for failing to honour her pre-poll promise of releasing political prisoners. "It is treachery by the state government against its own commitment," said Bhadra. He said there were more than 300 political prisoners as against the government`s claim of just 65. CRPP president and activist SAR Geelani criticised the government for passing the Bengal Correctional Services (Amendment) Bill, 2013 describing it as an "unprincipled law" and ultra vires of the constitution.