Expressing solidarity and seeking justice for Prof GN Saibaba, students and teachers of the Delhi University on Wednesday demanded unconditional release of the professor on the grounds of his 90 per cent disability. They also alleged the Delhi Police for unlawfully subjecting him to solitary confinement in the Nagpur Central Jail and denying him his medication.
The DU Community against Police Repression (DUCPR) said that the police had earlier ensured them of proper care to Saibaba, but it was apparently not followed. "On May 12, Saibaba's younger brother Ramdev went to visit him in jail where he had a limited meeting. Saibaba told him that he was being held in a highly unhygienic, solitary 'unda' cell that was almost totally dark. He was not allowed to make any sort of contact with anyone in the prison. It is physically impossible for someone with 90% disability to move around. let alone do anything in the dark, he can't even use the toilet due to his disability. Even his medicines for hypertension, heart problems and acute spinal pain are not being given to him," said Karen Gabriel, professor of English, St Stephen's College, during a Press conference.
They also demanded that Saibaba should be given bail or at least provided basic necessities like his medicines and sanitation. His wife said if these demands were not met, Saibaba would sit on a hunger strike in the jail from Thursday.