State general secretary of People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and counsel of Maoist leader Roopesh, S. Balamurugan, said that he (Roopesh) was continuing his fast on the 10{+t}{+h}day by not consuming food. “He is given saline water through drips when he is weak,” the counsel said after meeting the inmate at the Coimbatore Central Prison on Monday.
According to the counsel, the key demand of the National Security Act detenu is urging the Kerala Government and the police in that State to compile all the cases against him in Kerala and to be transparent in disclosing it to him. This is due to the suspicion that the police could arrest him on false charges after he was released on bail in connection with the existing cases against him.
Roopesh has also asked the Kerala Government to treat him as a political prisoner and allow him to meet the State level committee there that deals with release of political prisoners. “He is also fasting to condemn cases against activists and social workers under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and National Security Act,” said the counsel.
