Srimati Sushma Baidhya, wife of arrested Maoist
leader of Nepal Shri Mohan Baidhya and their two
daughters Chetana and Srijana met Association for
Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) and
Bandimukti Committee (BMC) on 18.6.06 and 20.6.06
respectively at their offices.

They requested the two organisations to help
secure the release of Shri Mohan Baidhya and
other political activists from Nepal who are now
detained in various Indian Jails.

Though exact figures are not available, it has
been learnt that at least 250 political activists
from Nepal were arrested during the last 3/4
years. They came to India for medical treatment
or to visit relatives and friends. Though about
100 of them were subsequently released on bail,
about 150 are languishing in different Jails of
West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and
Tamilnadu.

Apart from Mohan Baidhya, at least fourteen other
Maoist political activists from Nepal, including
Rekha Subba, Baburam Rai are now detained in
Siliguri Jail. Mohan Baidhya was arrested from a
Siliguri Nursing Home on 28.3.2004, when he was
still recuperating in a Siliguri Nursing Home
after an opthalmic surgery.

Earlier, APDR, BMC and other democratic voices
protested against detention of Maoist and other
political activists from Nepal in India, which
goes against international norms and our
countries tradition. We consider the continued
detentions are more unethical and illegal because
of
(i) the current changed political situation in
Nepal with the installation of the new government
(ii) Understanding reached between Nepal Maoists and the present government
(iii) Withdrawal of cases against Maoist
political activists in Nepal and their release,
and also because
(iv) there is no real allegation of criminal activity against them in India.

In the above context, we demand :
1. Withdrawal of all the false cases against
Mohan Baidhya, Rekha Subba, Baburam Rai and other
Maoist political activists from
Nepal, who are now detained in jails of West
Bengal and other Indian states and their
immediate release.
2. West Bengal Government and the Union
Government immediately release a list and other
details of Maoist and other political
activists from Nepal detained/arrested in India.

We also call upon all democratic
forces in India and elsewhere, particularly the
political parties and the intelligentia to raise
the demands and impress upon the state and
central governments for withdrawal of cases
against Maoist and other political activists
from Nepal and their immediate release.

Released at a Press Conference held at BMC Office
in Calcutta on 21 June 2006 in presence of
Srimati Sushma Baidhya, wife of arrested Maoist
leader of Nepal Shri Mohan Baidhya and their two
daughters Chetana and

Amitadyuti Kumar
Vice President,
Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR)
Senpara, PO Burashibtala,Chinsura, Dist Hooghly
WB PIN 712105 [India]