Adviser of Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) of Narayanpatna block in Koraput district Gananath Patra refused to get released from Koraput jail on conditional bail granted to him by the Odisha High Court.
ACCORDING TO official source of information Gananath Patra has opposed the conditions imposed on him for his release by the High Court. The first condition he would not attend any meeting or activity of CMAS and the second condition that he would not visit Narayanpatna area after the release. Gananath Patra while talking to newsmen on Tuesday last, said the conditions imposed by the High Court curtail his fundamental rights granted by the constitution.
He further said Narayanpatna is not declared to be a disturbed area and CMAS is not a banned organization. How come he be stopped from having links with them as an adviser of the CMAS? Gananatha Patra had been arrested from Bhubaneswar in Janauary 2010 on number of charges including instigating violence by CMAS. The High Court granted him conditional bail in relation to the 5 cases pending against him.
Meanwhile, Prof Radha Mohan and journalist K Sudhakar Patnaik who have been designated by the Government to review cases against tribals and members of Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh had a long discussion with the Secretary Home Department, Government of Odisha, Bhubaneswar, recently regarding release of Gananath Patra, among other things.
In a letter addressed to UN Behera, Secretary, Home Department mentioned that "We have been emphasizing from the beginning that cases against old, infirm and women should be withdrawn and such people should be released on priority. In connection with Gananatha patra, in his mid seventies is suffering from acute diabetes which has affected his eyesight badly." In a letter the two members mentioned that Patra is suffering from stone in gall-bladder which could not be operated in view of both high blood pressure and sugar problem. They opined in a letter that by no stretch of imagination he can be construed as a threat to state security and he is physically incapable waging a war against the state or causing murder. Such charges leveled against him carry no strength at all.
The two members explained this to the Secretary Home, Odisha and urged upon the government to withdraw all cases pending against him and release him from Koraput jail. The Secretary convinced and assured the two members that the Government will take appropriate steps for release of Gananath Patra a leacturer turned CPI (ML) leader who is also an adviser of CMAS.
