Exonerated after spending ten years in jail under the contentious Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Professor and activist Gokarakonda Naga Saibaba, who passed away on October 12, just seven months after his acquittal, was a staunch advocate for human rights and a vocal critic of the Indian government's policies.
Saibaba was incarcerated for ten years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for his alleged links with the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). His admirers and human rights activists mourned his death, calling it an institutional murder of an innocent man.
His arrest and subsequent imprisonment sparked widespread concerns over his treatment and the harsh conditions he endured during his confinement.
Despite having 90 per cent disabilities due to polio-paralysis, Saibaba was denied proper medical care while in jail, including medication for his condition. Human rights groups and activists have long criticized the government for its actions, accusing it of inflicting cruel and inhumane treatment on the professor, who was kept in solitary confinement and suffered from poor health.
His death, reportedly due to a cardiac arrest at Hyderabad's Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, has reignited calls for justice and accountability for the violations of his rights during incarceration.
Saibaba’s passing has drawn reactions from political leaders and activists alike. Many have pointed fingers at the government, claiming that his death was a direct consequence of the UAPA, which allows for long periods of detention without sufficient evidence.
Critics argue that his incarceration, along with that of other activists like Jesuit priest Stan Swamy, reflects a growing trend of using preventive detention as a tool of political repression. The situation has sparked calls for reform in India's legal system, with concerns that such draconian laws undermine basic democratic principles.
Saibaba's legacy as a defender of civil liberties and his commitment to social justice continues to resonate among human rights advocates. His death serves as a stark reminder of the need to protect individual freedoms and uphold the rule of law.