SHIMOGA: Journalist B.V. Seetharam and his wife S. Rohini of Mangalore, who were remanded in judicial custody by the Judicial Magistrate at Sagar on Friday in connection with the defamation case filed against their paper "Karavali Ale" were brought to the district jail here on Friday night and were lodged in separate cells.

They were shifted to the McGann Hospital on Saturday when they complained of health problems. After being treated they were put in separate rooms allotted to the judicial custody in the hospital.

Ms. Rohini, who developed the respiratory problem and low blood pressure, underwent treatment.

They will be produced before the Judicial Magistrate at Sagar on Monday when the objections to their bail applications will be heard.

A diabetic, Mr. Seetharam said that he lost nearly six kg of weight ever since he went on hunger strike in the jail after being remanded in the judicial custody. "Besides, the food being served to us has aggravated our health condition," he said.

He said: "We are not used to the strong pungent food being served to me and my wife. Our requests to allow us to have food from outside are not entertained."

He said that his back pain, which he developed while being brought to Sagar, had not subsided.

Mr. Seetharam said he was pained by the manner in which he was taken to Sagar immediately after he got the bail from the court in Mangalore. "I was dragged into the waiting police van without allowing me to talk to my daughter who was waiting outside the jail in the expectation that she could take us home."

He said his wife, who suffered from low blood pressure, developed the uneasiness this morning, which forced the jail authorities to shift her along with him to the McGann Hospital.

He said she underwent the ECG test.

Judicial probe sought

Mangalore Staff Correspondent writes:

Condemning their arrest as an attack on the freedom of press, M.F. Saldanha, retired judge of the Karnataka High Court, has called for a judicial inquiry into the incident.

He told presspersons here on Saturday that the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court should order an inquiry into the arrests. Media was the conscience keeper of society.

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