Pradip Dutta Roy escorted to SMCH from Silchar Central Jail; “Struggle for mother-tongue will continue,” he says  

At around 9:30 pm, Pradip Dutta Roy was escorted from Central Jail Silchar to Silchar Medical College and Hospital. Today, the District and Sessions Court heard the appeal from his lawyers and ruled in favour of Medical Custody considering he is a patient of Liver Transplant.

For the next seven days at least, Pradip Dutta Roy will be in a cabin at Silchar Medical College and Hospital which two constables will guard throughout. Only the family members will be allowed access to the campaign.

On his way out of the jail, Pradip Dutta Roy said, “After spending nine months in my mother’s womb when I came out, my first word was ‘Ma’ in my mother tongue Bangla. So, if there is any discrimination or injustice against my mother tongue I will not tolerate that, the struggle for mother-tongue will continue.”

He added, “I am ready to sacrifice my life and become the 12th Bengali language martyr from Cachar if need be for my mother tongue.”

Pradip Dutta Roy was arrested on the basis of an FIR lodged by ‘Hindu Yuva Parishad’. The organisation’s representative from Beltola, Guwahati travelled to Silchar and lodged an FIR on November 27 following which he was arrested by Cachar Police. The Chief Judicial Magistrate rejected bail plea and prayers for Medical Custody and so, advocate Souman Choudhury appearing on behalf of Pradip Dutta Roy moved to the District Court with the plea.

“I have called the jail Superintendent as well as Jail doctor who immediately turned up before this Court. On being asked the Jail Superintendent and Jail doctor clearly stated that the accused Pradip Dutta Roy had undergone liver transplantation and he is susceptible to other diseases. It is also apprised that there is jail hospital but patients are kept in a common hall and there is no separate cabin with separate toilet to keep a particular patient who is susceptible to disease like the present accused. The jail doctor has made it clear that the accused is taking hypertension medicine apart from other routine medicine prescribed for his liver transplantation. The doctor said that he may be infected by other diseases if he is not kept separately. The jail doctor and jail Superintendent has also stated that since there is no separate room with a separate toilet in the jail premises so that the accused can be kept in a hygienic environment as required by him,” noted the judge in his order.

The judge, therefore, ruled, “After considering the entire circumstances and also hearing all the parties, this Court justifiably feels that the accused requires special attention of doctors for at least few days. The accused is susceptible to other diseases at the jail custody in as much as there is no separate room with a separate toilet for an inmate of the jail who is a serious patient. Accordingly, the accused is forwarded to Silchar Medical College for one week for special attention by a team of doctors of Silchar Medical College.”