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| Thursday, 9 October 2003 |
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Maoist leader petitions Indian court against deportation move MADRAS, India, Wednesday (AFP) A senior leader of Nepal's Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) challenged his deportation to Nepal by an Indian court, fearing he would "most certainly" be killed if sent there. Chandra Prakash Gajurel, 54, petitioned the high court in Madras, capital of south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The court issued notices to the federal and the state government for their response on the petition. Gajurel was arrested by immigration officials at Madras airport just after midnight on August 19 this year while allegedly trying to board a flight to London on a forged passport. He has since been lodged in the Central Jail here. Speaking to reporters, Gajurel pointed to the alleged custodial "murder" of journalist Krishna Sen last year - "as he was writing against the excesses of the Royal Nepalese Army" - as his reason for opposing repatriation. Sen, the former editor of the pro-Maoist newspaper Janadisha, died in custody after being arrested on May 20, 2002. According to watchdog Reporters Without Borders, he died after being tortured. He was also critical of India's decision to deport three other Nepalese leaders even though the Delhi high court passed an interim order restraining such action. "I apprehend that I will also be deported in the same manner without adhering to the legal procedures relating to extradition and the Royal Nepalese Army will summarily execute me," the Maoist rebel said in his petition. Arguing that Indian laws did not permit extradition while the passport case was still pending against him in the court at Madras, Gajurel expressed confidence that he would get a fair trial in India. |
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