Kolkata: A silent funeral procession was
taken out on Wednesday with the body of Swapan Dasgupta, editor
of a banned Maoist magazine, by politicians and activists who
claimed he had a custodial death.
Dasgupta, who was arrested under the Unlawful
Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) four months
ago, died Tuesday at the SSKM hospital where he was admitted
with asthma and respiratory complications on December 17,
the hospital superintendent Debashish Bhattacharya said.
Dasgupta was the editor of the Bengali version of the
Maoist magazine `People`s March`.
Among those who took part in the march Wednesday were
Trinamool Congress MP Kabir Sumon and theatre personality
Bivas Chakra borty.
Suman, who courted controversy for opposing anti-
Maoist operations in West Midnapore district and bringing
out an album of songs on Chhatradhar Mahato, the jailed
Peoples Committee against Police Atrocities leader, alleged
that Dasgupta was killed in custody and demanded a probe.
"The government allowed him to die. When he was
shifted from jail to the SSKM hospital on December 17, he was
not given a bed and was forced to lie on the floor. Even after
he was detected with blood cancer, blood was not provided as
requisitioned," Sujato Bhadra, Secretary of human rights NGO
APDR, told an agency.
The funeral procession to the Keoratala burning
grounds was followed by marchers carrying placards describing
Dasgupta as `the first martyr of the UAPA`.
PTI
