Terror linked prisoners barred from political prisoner status

The West Bengal Assembly today amended a bill which will bar prisoners having links with terror groups from getting political prisoner status.
According to The West Bengal Correctional Services (Amendment) Bill, 2013, those connected to terrorist organisations could not be equated with persons who strive to achieve political goals through a democratic process in a lawful manner, Correctional Administration Minister H A Safwi said in his reply on the bill.
Any person arrested or convicted on a charge of having committed or attempting to commit or aiding or abetting the commission of any offence, coming within the purview of any offence punishable under the IPC or any other law in force, in furtherance of any political or democratic movement or public agitation, shall be classified as political prisoner.

It said that any member or supporter or any person having any involvement with any organisation, which was either proscribed or was an organisation classified or declared to be a terrorist or similar such organisation under any law in force, should not be classified as political prisoner.
Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra, belonging to the CPI(M), had some opinion on some sections of the amendment, but Speaker Biman Banerjee disallowed it.
Safwi said this amendment was necessary and it would benefit the administration, besides protecting the interests of the real political prisoners.