Online petition for Govindankutty's unconditional release

People's March editor P. Govindankutty ha been in custody for more than a month without being given bail. He was reported to be on fast. There was also a report about forcible feeding.

According to K A Shaji's report in Tehelka, while opposing his bail application in the Kerala High Court, the police said Govindankutty was providing ideological backing to Maoists of different streams for the last fiveyears and his release would help Naxalism grow in Kerala. Please see http://www.tehelka.com/story_main37.asp?filename=Ne020208code_red.asp

If this is true, the arrest is politically motivated and a wanton attack on freedom of speech and expression.

Those who subscribe to this view may sign an onpetition line demanding his unconditional release. http://www.petitiononline.com/govindan/petition.html

Arrested Maoist editor on fast, removed to hospital

Govindan Kutty, Editor of People’s march, who was on fast in jail, was admitted to the Taluk hospital at Aluva on Saturday, following deterioration in his condition, according to a website bearing the same name as his magazine.

An engineer by training, Govindan Kutty, who is 60, quit his government job a few years ago.. Since then he has been reportedly living in a lodge and editing and publishing People’s March, a magazine which publicizes the activities of the radical Left, particularly Maoist groups active in different parts of the country.

Following the arrest of Maoist leader Mallah Raja Reddy by the Andhra Pradesh police at Angamali, near Kochi, the local police raided his room and took him into custody. He has been charged with sedition and unlawful activities.

Police produced Govindan Kutty before a magistrate, who remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days. He immediately began a fast.

P. A. Pouran, President of the Kerala unit of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), described Govindan Kutty’s arrest as ''police high-handedness''. He pointed out that People’s March was not a banned publication, but a magazine which was being published lawfully. The police has not been able to bring forth any concrete charges against him.

In a recent interview, Govindan Kutty was asked how old he was and how he was contributing to the Maoist movement. “I am 60 years of age and wherever there is injustice I fight against it and stand against it,” he said. “You should also do the same.”For more information on the subject, please see http://peoplesmarchindia.blogspot.com/