Maoist Azad launches indefinite hunger strike demanding acceleration of his trials

Bhubaneswar: Jailed Maoist Dunna Kesava Rao, 52, aka Azad, launched an indefinite hunger strike at Jharpada special jail here on Wednesday, demanding expedited trial of his cases, said prison officials.The development came against the backdrop of a recent spate of encounters, surrenders and arrests of several top-ranked Maoist members in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Odisha, with a view to achieve the Centre’s goal of making the country Naxal-free by March 2026.Azad, who surrendered to Andhra Pradesh police on May 18, 2011, has been in Odisha jail since June 1, 2011. He faces allegations of involvement in several serious crimes, including the 2008 murder of VHP member Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and the attack on Nayagarh police armoury.“He has refused food since morning, protesting the slow pace of his trials. He previously approached the Supreme Court, seeking directives for the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh police to expedite his trials. He claimed that despite SC’s orders to hasten the process, there has been no compliance,” said Sarbeswar Behera, superintendent of the special jail.This is not Azad’s first hunger strike; he had carried out a similar protest in March 2015 in the same prison.

Hailing from Mandasa mandal in Andhra’s Srikakulam district, Rao faces charges in 43 cases. However, he has not been convicted in any case and has been acquitted in at least 10 cases to date, prison sources said.At the time of his arrest, he was a key figure in the Odisha state organising committee (ORSOC) and the Andhra-Odisha border special zonal committee (AOBSZC) of the CPI (Maoist). His alleged involvement in Maoist activities dates back to 1990, including attacks on police stations and the killing of police officers in both states.