Advocate and women's rights activist Bellala Padma faces severe health crisis in prison

By A Representative

The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) has issued an urgent appeal for the immediate release of Bellala Padma, a 50-year-old advocate and women's rights activist from Telangana, citing her deteriorating health condition. Padma, who has been incarcerated at Jagdalpur prison since June 2023 following her arrest by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), is reportedly suffering from severe medical issues, including vomiting blood, loss of consciousness, and excruciating pain in her ribs and legs.

According to CASR, Padma has been bedridden since March 28th and has received minimal medical care, limited to multivitamin and Vitamin C tablets. Despite her critical condition, prison authorities have allegedly denied her access to proper medical treatment.

Padma's health struggles are compounded by her previous 10-year incarceration as an undertrial prisoner from 2007 to 2017, during which her health significantly deteriorated. After her release and acquittal in 2017, she pursued legal studies and was enrolled in an LLM program at the time of her arrest.

CASR has called on the National Human Rights Commission and Chhattisgarh State Human Rights Commission to intervene urgently to ensure Padma receives adequate medical care. The organization has also urged progressive democratic rights groups and individuals to unite in support of Padma and her activism.

The statement highlights broader concerns about the treatment of political prisoners in India, referencing past cases where activists such as Stan Swamy and G.N. Saibaba faced similar neglect, leading to their untimely deaths.

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