The Hindu : Plea to grant asylum to Nepal Communist leader

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 21, 2003

National

National

Plea to grant asylum to Nepal Communist leader

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI SEPt. 20. A group of human rights activists today urged the Centre not to deport a Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) leader, who was arrested at the Chennai airport a month ago. He should be given political asylum in India, it said.

Chandra Prakash Gajurel was apprehended on August 20, when he was on his way to London, on charges of possessing a fake passport and was later remanded in custody.

M.N. Ravunni, convenor of the Committee to Defend the Human Rights of C.P. Gajurel, and T.S.S. Mani of the People's Union for Civil Liberties, told a press conference here that when Mr. Gajurel was arrested, the CPN (Maoist) was negotiating with the Nepalese Government for a peaceful settlement. Now, there was information that the Indian Government was taking steps to send him back to Nepal.

The committee feared that if he was deported, Mr. Gajurel's life would be in danger. Mr. Ravunni said that only a year ago, Krishna Singh, a journalist from Nepal, who was arrested in New Delhi and later sent back, was shot dead.

The arrested leader's wife was also present at the press conference.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National