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(Pi Bureau)
GADCHIROLI: Delhi University professor GN Saibaba and four others were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Gadchiroli Sessions Court today(under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), after being found guilty of helping a banned Maoist group. A sixth convict was sentenced to 10 years in jail.
Presently he was on bail; Saibaba-90 percent physically disabled was granted bail on medical grounds by Bombay High Court
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Hem Mishra, Senior former Journalist Prashant Rahi and three others have also been convicted along with Prof. Saibaba for having Maoist link by the court.
All were convicted under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
Saibaba, a wheelchair-bound Delhi-based English professor was arrested by Gadchiroli police in May 2014 on charges of allegedly being a member of a banned terrorist organization (CPI-Maoist). He was also accused of providing logistics support and helping in recruitment for the group.
Saibaba said he will comment on his conviction after speaking to his lawyers. All six accused, including Saibaba, Hem Mishra, Prashant Rahi, Vijay Tirke, Mahesh Tirke and Pandu Narote were present in the court today during the sentencing.
Police alleged the professor was acting as an over-the-ground worker for the banned outfit and was also running an organisation that was acting as a front for the CPI (Maoist). Saibaba denied that charge.
