Author: Sheela Bhat
Publication: Rediff.com
Date: November 18, 2008
URL: http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/nov/18atsmale-advani-statement-on-sadhvi-pragya.htm
On the flight from Delhi to Raipur today,
I read the full text of Sadhvi Pragya's affidavit before the Nashik court.
I cannot believe that such barbaric treatment has been meted out to a spiritual
person, that too, a woman in a country that prides itself on its democracy
and rule of law.
So far I had refrained from commenting on
the allegations levelled by the Maharashtra Anti-terrorism Squad against Sadhvi
Pragya and her supposed associates. But after going through her affidavit
detailing how she was physically and psychologically tortured and abused by
her interrogators, I have to express my shock and outrage which I am sure
all Indians will share.
It is incredible that the Sadhvi was kept
in illegal detention for two weeks while she was tortured in a vicious manner
which led to her hospitalisation. Polygraph and narco tests were conducted
without her consent. Not even a female constable was present during her illegal
confinement
It has further become clear that the ATS is
acting in a politically motivated and unprofessional manner. After levelling
all kind of charges against a serving Army officer, and suggesting he stole
RDX from an army depot to organise the blasts on the Samjhauta Express, it
has now admitted that no RDX was used in those blasts.
