Elgar Parishad case: Dozens of civil rights bodies demand release activist Gonsalves on medical grounds

New Delhi:A group of over 40 civil society organisations under the aegis of Mumbai Rises to Save Democracy (MRSD) demanded the release of 65-year-old activist Vernon Gonsalves on medical grounds.

The MRSD, in a statement, said: “We also demand that his family and advocates be kept regularly updated on his medical status and provide access to the medical professionals in the hospital to monitor his condition…We further demand that activist Vernon Gonsalves be granted immediate bail on medical grounds and be released.”

As per the affidavit filed by his lawyers in an NIA court, Gonsalves started developing several symptoms, such as fever, cough, dizziness, and nausea starting on August 30. Notably, his condition deteriorated in prison, as mentioned in the affidavit. It further alleged that instead of continuing his treatment there, he was taken back to jail the same day. Upon hearing about this from other co-accused, Gonsalves’ lawyers and family members moved the NIA court seeking temporary bail on medical conditions.

The arrested activists in the Elgar Parishad case have been systematically denied medical treatment and he may also be suffering from Pneumonia, their family members alleged on Saturday.

The event took place in Pune on December 31, 2017, a day before violent clashes broke out between Maratha and Dalit groups near the village of Bhima Koregaon in Maharashtra. The Centre transferred the case to the National Investigation Agency in January 2020. The trial in the case is yet to begin.

The civil society organisations said that it was appalling that the activist was not given proper medical care even after it was found out that he was suffering from dengue.

Earlier, out of the 16 arrested persons, Jesuit priest Stan Swamy died at a hospital in Mumbai while in custody, due to gross delay and neglect on the part of the prison authorities to provide medical care and treatment, it underlined.

It added, “Several others have fallen sick or were delayed medical help for an ongoing health condition. Two other accused persons, Sudha Bharadwaj and Varavara Rao are currently out on bail. The latter, who is out on medical bail, similarly suffered medical neglect in jail and delayed treatment during the pandemic.”

Several activists, academicians, and lawyers incarcerated in the case have been arrested in multiple rounds, starting from June 2018, months after saffron flag carrying mobs attacked Dalits who had gathered at Bhima Koregaon for its bicentennial anniversary of the battle of Bhima Koregaon.

-INDIA NEWS STREAM