GUWAHATI: The noted journalist Kuldip Nayar warned Chief Minister Sliteswar Saikis that he was only digging a grave for democracy and the rule of law by committing illegalities in the matter of treatment to TADA detainees.

In an open letter to him and released to the press after to visited the GMC hospital and spoke to some TADA detainees, Nayar said, “I wanted to meet you once again to convey my feelings of hurt and horror over the way the TADA prisoners are created in Assam. Whatever the assurances and the law court’s instructions, the detainees continued to be handcuffed in detention. I saw seven detainees in a local hospital, handcuffed and brief of basic amenities. They have to buy medicines from their own pocket

“I was not able to meet Shashikanta Hazarika, the 72-year-old person, “re covering” in the hospital after brutal being by your police. The officer did not allow me to meet him but came to know what I wanted to know he is handcuffed, why do you do all these things? What purpose docs it serve? By doing so you are only digging a grave of democracy and the rule of law, which is absent in Assam, Nayar wrote in his letter to Saikia. Meanwhile, the Designated Court at Guwahati cautioned the investigating officer not to allow further publicity of confessional sentiments all the charge sheet was filed in the case of TADA deraine Sashi Konta lazarika who was arrested in the Khirode Baruah murder case and directed him to remove the chain from the body of Hazanka forthwith.

This order came on a prayer on behalf of Hazarika that the prosecution be directed not to publicize any confessional statement cither through the press or video cassettes

It may be mentioned here that soon after the arrests of Hazarika and another accused in the Khirode Baruah murder case, Lakhi Mahanta by Morigaon police in November, the Government had shown a video film of alleged confession of both of them and also sent their confessional statements the press for publication.

The 10 told the court that no confessional statement had been recorded as yel. Ho however, admitted that a video film on his confessional statement had been shown to media people.

 

Article extracted from this publication >> February 10, 1995