Jailed Odisha Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda hospitalised

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Berhampur, Apr 9:

Odisha’s top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, who was on a fast for the past thirteen days in the circle jail here, was admitted to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital as his health condition deteriorated today.

“As his condition deteriorated, he was referred to the medical college and hospital as per the advice of the doctor. Initially, he was hell-bent not to get admitted to the hospital. However, he gave in to the consistent persuasion from jail and district administration officials,” a jail official said.

The 47-year-old founder leader of Odisha Maobadi Party (OMP) had resorted to an indefinite hunger strike demanding fulfilment of a four-point charter of demands including withdrawal of false cases registered against him, Sabyasachi’s lawyer Deepak Patnaik.

It was for the sixth time since his arrest on July 18, 2014 that the Maoist leader launched hunger strike inside the jail.

Earlier in January this year, the Red leader was on hunger strike and hospitalised as his health condition deteriorated.