Saw My Inmate Die, It’s A Miracle To Be Alive”: Saibaba Released After A Decade (Image- twitter/nihalsingrathod)

Former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba was released from Nagpur Central jail on Thursday morning after a decade. The 54-year-old, who was acquitted in a UAPA case, said that it was a miracle he came out alive, pointing to the death of his cell inmate and co-accused, Pandu Narote, two years ago.

Saibaba who came out of jail in wheelchair was released two days after he and five others, charged under UAPA for allegedly aiding Maoists and waging war against the state, were acquitted a second time.

The former professor after being released said to the reporters that he was denied medical aid in prison and this had a telling impact on his health.

Calling himself a human rights activist who was victimized by the state, he said that he had only done documentation on tribal rights at the behest of veteran activists – Justice Randhir Sachar, Swami Agnivesh, IAS officer B D Sharma and Delhi University professor Randhir Singh.

Saibaba recounted how the government ran a “salwa judum” and Operation Green Hunt, affecting tribals whose land had allegedly been usurped for mining projects. “They wanted me to coordinate with civil rights groups, while the government in power told me to stop my work. This became the basis of my arrest”.

The professor denied any association with Narote before his jail stint. He expressed his solidarity with lawyer Surendra Gadling, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence case who is now lodged in Pune jail. The activist said that Gadling was paying the price for defending him in court. He added that he was threatened with a long prison term for fighting his case.

When enquired whether he would continue activism, Saibaba asserted that it is every citizen’s duty to stand up for rights. Despite his ill health, he said he wants to make up for the lost time. The professor asked, “I was arrested at the peak of my career. Will I get back the 10 years I lost?”