Maoist Azad’s mother urges Guv to release his son

BHUBANESWAR: Dunna Kamalamma, the mother of top Maoist leader Dunna Keshav Rao alias Azad, on Thursday urged the Governor of Odisha MC Bhandare to help them out to release her son from the clutches of Odisha police. Kamalamma and her family members who had come to Jharpada jail to meet Azad were denied by the jail authority.

After getting news about Azad’s indefinite fast in Jharpada jail, family members of the Maoist leader had come to inquiry about the health condition of their son. They tried a lot, but could not meet their son. Later they went to Raj Bhavan and handed over a memorandum to demanding justice.

Azad is a surrendered Maoist and he has already received the facilities according to the surrender policy of the Andhra Pradesh Government, but why the Odisha police are behaving with him like an accused, questioned Azad’s advocate Amiya Patnaik.

Doctors from the Capital Hospital conducted a medical check-up as the fast entered in 6th day. “A team of doctors had visited the Jail to check the health condition of Azad. For further check-up, he was referred to the SCB Medical College Hospital at Cuttack,” said Capital Hospital Deputy CMO SN Swain.

It may be noted that Azad had started his indefinite fast from Saturday inside the Jharpada jail here demanding release him from jail. His indefinite fast would continue till he gets justice, Azad’s advocate said. The very next day, Kamalamma threatened to commit suicide if Azad was not released as immediately as possible. She said the Odisha Police had brought Azad in remand from the Andhra Police for 14 days in June last year. But he was incarcerated in the Jharpada jail since then, she added.

Even Andhra Pradesh MLA Juttu Jagannayakulu from Palasa constituency has requested in a letter to Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Sindhe to ensure freedom of surrendered Maoist Azad from the Jharpada jail.