’Binayak’s daughters are in great danger’

Wife of the jailed rights activist says the family is not safe in Chhattisgarh; claims case against her husband was a farce

'Binayak's daughters are in great danger'

Wife of the jailed rights activist says the family is not safe in Chhattisgarh; claims case against her husband was a farce

She has been in a state of shock ever since the verdict was pronounced. A prominent social worker herself, who has been part of committees formed by the Central government on education (including those under Dr Manmohan Singh), Ilina Sen, wife of now convicted Dr Binayak Sen, spoke to MiD DAY about meeting her husband in jail and her take on the Naxal problem.

Fighting on: Ilina Sen, wife of Dr Binayak Sen. Pic/Rajeev Tyagi

What do you feel about the trial leading to Binayak Sen's conviction?
It was a complete farce. We believed that a fair trial was possible but that belief has now been shattered. The police chargesheet has been repeated verbatim in the judgement. There was no reason for this trial ka natak. I will now only get back my husband's body from jail.

What will you do now that your husband is in prison?
I am afraid that I am not safe in Chhattisgarh. I have two daughters. I fear what will happen to them. I am not safe in my own country. I want to live a peaceful life. For that whatever I have to do I will do. Whenever I go to Chhattisgarh my phone is tapped; I am followed.

Have you visited Binayak Sen in jail?
I have given him two books, Shock Therapy and Health Sector reforms, and a diary. The prison authorities have kept them. Don't know whether they have been given to him.

What were the contents of the letters based on which Dr Sen was charged?
The contents of the letters were not inflammatory at all. I am not sure who wrote them. The connection with Narayan Sanyal and Pijush Guha was also not proved. There were wild allegations that I was corresponding with the ISI. There were names like Ali Asgar, Zafarullah Chowdhury. Of course we have Muslim friends. Is it illegal in this country to have Muslim friends?

What about exhibit 837?
Exhibit 837 was not seized from our house. It was not signed by us. But later when it was produced in the court, it was signed by independent witnesses. The police said it must have got stuck to some other document. The judge blindly accepted this. They might as well not have held a trial.

Do you think the judgement was free and fair? Are there wider interests involved?
Yes, the connections are very clear. Not just that; this is based on prejudice. It is a bad signal for our democracy. The case goes beyond Binayak Sen, Ilina Sen or the Sen family. This case has much wider ramifications. The case was a farce. How did the media know it was going to be unfair before the verdict was announced?

How is Dr Binayak Sen now?
He has been kept in a cage-like cell along with some other prisoners. He is let out in the morning for two hours and again in the evening. Talks are on to put in CCTV cameras. It is inhuman. I am told other prisoners get newspapers with sensitive bits cut out.

Are you looking for political asylum?
That is the only course available to me. Everybody has colluded in this judgement. I want to live. If I don't get justice then I will have to think about it.

Do you support the Maoist kangaroo courts?
No. At last here you have the chance to appeal to a higher court. There is no such recourse in kangaroo courts.

What documents were recovered from the computer that was seized?
We wanted our advocate to be present. We Bengalis usually have a nickname and an official name. There was a document where my daughters had listed those names. They (police) picked it up and said these were names of other Maoists. A friend of mine stays in America. She had written: "We have a chimpanzee in the White House." That was picked up as a code.

Do you still have faith as you go to High Court?
Humein bharosa ke saath jaana hoga (We have to keep faith as we move forward). Hope I get justice there.

What is the situation as of now?
His work, family are in tatters. This is harassment. We are bringing out a book on Binayak's work.

Do you think the judgement is part of a larger conspiracy?
Yes, with the government and police of Chhatisgarh. Bastar has large mineral resources. Salwa Judum has too close a relationship with them.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said Maoism is the biggest threat to the country. What do you think?
Maoism is a serious issue but the real threat is wide inequities in the country.

What will you do now?
The struggle to get Binayak released has become a symbol to release all those innocents who are in jail. We will also oppose Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and 40-50 laws. We will make it a mass movement.

Ram Jethamalani has offered to fight the case. Will you take up his offer?
I might but have not decided yet.

Trial and error?

The trial against Binayak Sen began in the trial court in Raipur on 30 May 2008. On 4 May 2008, Supreme Court issued notice to Chhattisgarh government on Sen's bail plea. It asked the state government to provide "best medical aid" to Sen, who is suffering from a heart ailment.
On August 11, 2008, a second bail petition was filed in the Chhattisgarh High Court in Bilaspur. On 21 October, Sen made a public appeal and proposal for peace in South Bastar.
Sen was granted bail on 25 May 2009 by a vacation bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Markandey Katju and Justice Deepak Verma as his health conditions were deteriorating.
On 24 December, 2010, the Additional Sessions and District Court Judge BP Varma Raipur found Binayak Sen, Naxal ideologue Narayan Sanyal and Kolkata businessman Piyush Guha, guilty of sedition for helping the Maoists in their fight against the state. They were sentenced to life imprisonment. Immediately after the sentencing, Dr Sen's bail was revoked and he was taken back into custody.

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