Chennai: Activists fume over disparity in bail grant

Chennai: Continuing incarceration of Salem-based rights activist and green campaigner Piyush Sethia, due to police opposition to his release on bail, has evoked wide spread condemnation.

The activist was arrested on July 8 along with two others for protesting in a different way by chaining themselves to a road-roller to highlight irregularities in the construction of a rail overbridge at Mulavadi in Salem.

The local magistrate on Friday denied him bail while granting it to the other two because of strong opposition by police. Police had earlier slapped many cases against him including charges of sedition. He was also facing charges of criminal intimidation under section 506(2) of IPC, which is a non-bailable offence.

As per Piyush’s wife and his lawyer P. Mayan, he has been subjected to physical and mental harassment inside the jail. “He was beaten ‘for a good half an hour
before they sent him to solitary confinement’, added Mayan.

On Friday, Piyush informed his lawyer that ‘he was abused by a group of unknown persons inside the prison several times’. Next bail petition will be moved at the Sessions Court on Monday, said Mayan. Founder of Salem Citizen’s Forum (SCF), Piyush has been booked under IPC sections 341,188, 353 and 506(2).

“We strongly condemn the arrest and assault of Piyush. He has done a lot of good work for the people in and around Salem. He is not a criminal or murderer or plunderer of public wealth,’’ said S.P. Udayakumar of Kudankulam movement.
“Three people were arrested on similar charges, but only Piyush’s bail was rejected. This is discriminatory. There is serious life threat for him inside the jail.

District Magistrate should intervene in this matter as per NHRC guidelines,’’’ said S. Balamurugan, state general secretary, PUCL. “Piyush was part of a public interest protest. The state should deal with such protests differently from dealing with private interest crimes. This is reflective of Tamil Nadu’s democratic ethos where public protests are not treated with dignity,’’ alleged rights activist
C.R. Bijoy.