Bengal recommends release of 52 political prisoners
July 20th, 2011 - 10:11 pm ICT by IANS
Kolkata, July 20 (IANS) The West Bengal government Wednesday decided to release 52 political prisoners, including one Maoist and several activists of organisations involved in movement for separate states.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the list at the state secretariat here following a recommendation made by a panel - Bandi Mukti Committee - set up by her government for release of political prisoners after a case-by-case review.
The committee, led by retired justice Malay Sengupta, had recommended release of 78 political prisoners.
“However, after considering all aspects at the administrative and government level, we are recommending release of 52 prisoners,” the chief minister said.
Banerjee said the list included several leaders of the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) and some associated with the Greater Cooch Behar movement.
“It will be a continuous process. Their cases are in lower courts, high court or the Supreme Court. Detailed investigations have to be done to see the status of the pending cases. Once the process is complete, they will walk free. Then we will review more cases,” she added.
The Maoist leader set to be released is Chandi Sarkar.
The KLO has been demanding creation of Kamtapur state, comprising six districts in northern West Bengal and nine others in Assam.
The Greater Cooch Behar agitation is based on a demand for a separate state comprising the territory of the erstwhile Cooch Behar princely state.
Hours after being sworn in May 20, Banerjee announced that cases of all political prisoners will be reviewed by an expert committee comprising former judges, jurists, human right activists and members of the civil society, and those found innocent will be freed.
- ULFA and KLO rebels arrested in Meghalaya - Jan 05, 2012
- West Bengal government to release 40 lifers - Mar 14, 2012
- Four militants arrested in Assam - Jul 24, 2010
- West Bengal rehabilitates surrendered Kamtapur rebels - Apr 20, 2010
- Mamata's committees: Too many cooks? - Jul 30, 2011
- Will review cases of all political prisoners: Mamata - May 20, 2011
- Maoist sympathisers doubt Mamata's commitment to peace talks - Oct 15, 2011
- Mamata clarifies on future of Terai, Dooars region - Oct 13, 2011
- Hooch sellers want financial package from Mamata - Dec 22, 2011
- This is not the change we wanted: Bengal intellectuals - Apr 17, 2012
- Trains to soon connect Cooch Behar, Jaipur: Mamata - Jan 29, 2011
- Mamata's Junglemahal package: Does it address main issues? - Jul 22, 2011
- Mahasweta Devi to join mass sit-in for Binayak Sen's release - Jan 18, 2011
- Security agencies on alert in Bengal: Buddhadeb - Jul 09, 2009
- Darjeeling should be declared backward region: GJM - Dec 24, 2011
Tags: activists, agitation, assam, chief minister, cooch behar, erstwhile, expert committee, government level, jurists, klo, liberation organisation, malay, mamata banerjee, maoist, political prisoners, princely state, secretariat, sengupta, state secretariat, west bengal government