Mon Oct 14 02:30:26 UTC 2024: ## Disability Rights Activist GN Saibaba Dies After Years of Imprisonment and Inadequate Medical Care
**New Delhi:** GN Saibaba, a former Delhi University professor and prominent disability rights activist, passed away on Saturday at a state-run hospital in Hyderabad. The 54-year-old activist died due to post-operative complications, seven months after being acquitted in a Maoist links case. His death has sparked outrage from the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD), who claim Saibaba’s prolonged imprisonment and inadequate medical care contributed to his untimely demise.
Saibaba, who had polio and suffered from multiple severe health conditions, spent ten years in prison despite being acquitted on charges the NPRD deemed false. Despite his release being hailed as a victory for justice, his freedom was tragically short-lived.
According to the NPRD, Saibaba’s pre-existing health issues were exacerbated by his prolonged imprisonment and lack of adequate medical care. During his incarceration, his spinal and nervous system disorders worsened, and one of his arms became non-functional due to injuries sustained during his arrest. The NGO alleges that despite repeated pleas for medical attention, Saibaba was denied necessary surgery for acute pancreatitis and gallbladder stones.
The NPRD has criticized the failure to provide reasonable accommodation and medical treatment for Saibaba, highlighting the violation of both international treaties and domestic laws protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. They draw a parallel with the case of Father Stan Swamy, who also died in custody, and express concern over the state of our criminal justice system.
Muralidharan, NPRD’s general secretary, paid tribute to Saibaba as a fighter for the marginalized and downtrodden, stating that his death is a significant loss to the movement for justice and human rights.
First Piper 