Who framed S. A. R. Geelani?
-- Sandeep Vaidya
India Solidarity group (Ireland)
Dublin, Ireland
25 December, 2006
Editior
Hindustan Times, Mumnat
Dear Editor,
Re. “Who needs Reality TV?” By Arundhati Roy, Hindustan Times, 23rd Dec., 2006.
Thanks to courageous efforts by Ms. Roy and a handful of lawyers, journalists, and activists we are now fully aware of the gross shortcomings in the judicial process that lead to Afzal Guru being sentenced to hang.
Ms. Roy is correct in pointing out that some media including the NDTV have played an unfortunate role in propagating misleading and incomplete information to the public.
During a recent meeting with Prof. S.A.R Geelani, he described to me in harrowing detail his experiences with the STF and other state agencies. He told me how he was physically grabbed by the officials, handcuffed, chained and blindfolded and the bundled into a waiting car. Thus began Prof. Geelani’s nightmare which included being sentenced to hang based on trumped up charges. In the NDTV Prime time show (broadcast on 16 December) on Afzal Guru, Prof. Geelani demanded to know why the men who had framed him were never tried for their crimes. Unfortunately the host of the show, Barkha Dutt chose not to follow up on this question.
Indians deserve to know the truth behind the attack on the parliament. We also deserve to know who was responsible for the framing of Prof. Geelani. Truthful answers to these questions will help us ensure that justice is done to Afzal Guru.
We are planning to send letters to President Abdul Kalam and the NHRC asking for an independent investigation in the attack on the Indian parliament and a new trial for Afzal Guru. Hundreds of people have signed the letters so far. The list includes names like Anand Patwardhan, Noam Chomsky, Harsh Mandar, Sandeep Pandey and Sister Helen Prejean. I would like to urge your readers to visit our website, http://www.justiceforafzalguru.org to support the letters.
Yours Sincerely
Sandeep Vaidya
India Solidarity Group
25 Tircroghan, Kinnegad
Dublin, Ireland