IT News
Imphal, Dec 21,
In yet another topsy-turvy, Jail SP clarification stating that Kishorechandra’s advocate left early before completing formalities, Shreeji Bhavsar the Supreme Court lawyer who is fighting the case for Kishorechandra said that he waited for three hours to meet his client and as the Jail SP was not in the office and authority in charge denied to give permission for meeting his client and refuse to confirm when the SP will return.
This is what Shreeji Bhavsar, Advocate replied –
“It’s very satisfying to see that Superintendent of Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa has very promptly within 24 hours issued a clarification in regard to the news published in several newspapers today that, the Jail authorities didn’t gave me permission for meeting with my client detenue Kishorechandra on 20th December, 2018, at least they have acknowledged.
“Although, I totally reject their claim that they were undergoing some formalities and I left early. I stayed at the Jail for almost 3 hours and the officer in charge on duty told me that the Jail Superintendent is not available and his wife can meet him but in case of meeting with the Advocate only the Jail Superintendent can give permission for meeting and I have to wait till he comes and he also cannot confirm me at what time the Jail Superintendent will come, on this, I told him that at first place I am the Advocate for Kishorechandra and his wife Ranjita is also present with me and I have all the right to meet my client in Jail, secondly even if the permission is needed, it has to be given by the Office of the Jail Superintendent and whosoever is in charge in absence of Jail Superintendent can give me permission to meet my client but he didn’t agreed with my request and kept me waiting for almost 3 hours, finally I had to come back without meeting my client Kishorechandra.
“If the Jail Authorities are now claiming that they were undergoing some formalities and in between I left, I challenge them to show any document of formality which contains my Name or Signature? For 3 hours the officer in charge didn’t even accepted my Application and said that he cannot accept my Application and I shall give it to the Jail Superintendent only whenever he come and therefore I say that for 3 hours the Jail authorities were not undergoing any formalities but only denying me access to meet my client Kishorechandra on one or other pretext. Lastly, there is at least one thing I can agree with the Respected Jail Superintendent clarification is that, PEN can be used as a weapon they must be aware of the fact that, “the Pen is mightier than the sword?”, Shreeji Bhavsar.
Earlier in his clarification the Jail SP, Touthang stated that the Counsel Advocate of Kishorechandra Wangkhem (Journalist) now detained under National Security Act (NSA) at Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa namely Shreeji Bhavsar came to Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa on 20/12/2018 but left early while formalities like entry of names, sorting out the prisoners from their sectors, etc were being conducted. The wife of the NSA detenue Shri Kishorechandra Wangkhem and her brother met the detenue after completion of formalities as can be seen in our jail Interview Register. Mrs Ranjita and her brother took the Vakalatnama signed by Mr. Kishorechandra with them.
The SP also stated that all sectors inside the prison are provided Local News papers (1) Sangai Express (Manipuri), (2) Poknapham (3) Hueiyen Lanpao and National paper (4) Telegraph.
“Pen and paper are provided as per request of the inmates only. This is because pen has been used as weapon in the past by inmates and provocative material written and sent out of the jail premises in the past by prisoners. Those who request for pen and writing materials are provided after proper confirmation. There is a library inside the Jail with a good numbers of books and this facility is open to all inmates. Many inmates who are interested are availing of this facility. NSA has its own diet scale and menu as prescribed by the Government. The above facts clearly show that all the allegations in the press release of Advocate Shreeji Bhavsar are false and baseless. All these matters can be confirmed from the Prison Authorities”, the SP added”
