PUCL condemns arrest of DU professor

People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Thursday condemned the arrest of Delhi University professor G.N. Saibaba for his alleged links with Maoists.

Saibaba was arrested here May 9 by the Maharashtra Police.

"The harsh and violent manner of the arrest of Saibaba is unacceptable and condemnable in a democracy claiming to follow the law. He had always cooperated with the police whenever they wanted to question him as part of an investigation, a PUCL statement said.

Saibaba is an English professor at Ram Lal Anand College here and is wheelchair-bound with 90 percent locomotor disability.

"The conduct of the Gadchiroli police was utterly unlawful, breaking all the mandatory provisions relating to conduct of search and seizure," added the statement.

PUCL also demanded that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) should immediately intervene in the matter and launch a comprehensive enquiry into the illegalities committed by the Gadchiroli police.

"NHRC should immediately intervene to get the professor released from the prison so that he can get expert medical attention, utilise the services of a personal attendant and also be able to access toilet facilities adapted to his personal needs, the statement said.