Respected Sir,
Sub: Covid 19- Decongestion of Prison- Allowing bail to Dr Anand Teltumbde Reg
Coinciding with the Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14 2020, Dr. Anand Teltumbde, one of India’s foremost public intellectuals, a democratic spirit, and lifelong fighter for the poor, vulnerable, and oppressed among us surrendered to the National Investigation Agency after exhausting all legal remedies. He is the tenth out of the sixteen public intellectuals and human rights defenders who have been arrested in what has now become known as the Bhima-Koregaon case. Dr. Teltumbde has been languishing in Taloja Prison in Navi Mumbai since the last 14 months as an undertrial detainee.
Situations in the Taloja Prisons where he is presently housed are miserable. Apart from being overcrowded, there are over 60 cases of the COVID-19 (B.1.617.2 variant, currently prevalent in India) that have been reported in both inmates as well jail staff. Due to non-availability of testing kits, persons showing symptoms are not being tested. The prison premises do not have trained medical personnel, equipment such as oximeters, oxygen cylinders, ECG machines or even basic medicines to treat common conditions let alone COVID-19. The only available medical care in the prison is from Ayurvedic doctors who are ill-qualified to treat these conditions and are dispensing inappropriate medicines that are worsening the symptoms of the prisoners. Further Dr. Teltumbde has received just a single dose of the Covishield vaccine (AstraZeneca vaccine by Serum Institute of India) administered on 18th May.
As the deadly second wave of Covid rages, with an equally serious third wave anticipated, being incarcerated would be a virtual death sentence for the 71-year-old Anand Teltumbde, who suffers from chronic bronchitis, and potentially nerve damaging cervical spondylitis.
In a recent press briefing conducted by the AIIMS chief Dr Randeep Guleria, a third Covid wave in India is “inevitable”, and it would hit the country in the next six to eight weeks. Given that COVID-19, if untreated, can cause rapid decline in health and can kill an elderly, asthmatic person in a matter of days, we are especially concerned that Dr. Anand Teltumbde’s life is in grave danger so long as he is inside the prison while the pandemic rages and several infected carriers are inside the jail.
Over the last two years, global outrage has been expressed by thousands of citizens of India, eminent scholars, legal experts, human rights advocates, institutions charged with maintaining international law at the state of the Bhima-Koregaon 16 and the utmost disregard for evidence and callous treatment of some of India’s most celebrated public intellectuals, scholars, and activists. That such a public figure as Dr. Teltumbde has today been given a virtual death sentence for charges he vehemently denies and have no basis in evidence is a matter that speaks to those of us who value truth, justice, and democratic process.
I believe that while Dr. Teltumbde awaits trial which will no doubt prove his innocence, he has every right to be under the safety and care of his family. We urge you to take action to have him moved from Taloja jail to house arrest for the 71-year-old Anand Teltumbde, who suffers from chronic bronchitis, and potentially nerve damaging cervical spondylitis, this least until this pandemic situation subsides. Given Dr Teltumbde’s family credentials, he will be able to undergo house arrest at ‘Rajgruha’ – none other than the historical residence of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar which is located in Mumbai and which already has security provided by police personnel from the Maharashtra State police force.
This is a humanitarian emergency. The life of Dr. Anand Teltumbde is in grave danger and I am seeking your help to secure his life and well-being.
Thanking You
Sincerely Yours,
Dr. Thol. Thirumaavalavan.
–கே.பி.சுகுமார்.