Stoking controversy, a SFI student leader in judicial custody has been chained to his bed at a state-run hospital with the police saying that the jail authorities be asked about it.
The first year student, Santosh Sahani, was arrested on April 10 after a clash between Trinamool Congress and Left supporters in Siliguri.
He fell ill while in judicial custody yesterday and was admitted to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital near Siliguri.
"He is in judicial custody, it is for the jail authorities to answer. The police have nothing to do to it," Commissioner of Police, Anant Kumar told PTI over telephone from Siliguri.
CPI(M) leader Ashok Bhattacharya went to visit Sahani during the day and found him chained to the bed.
Live footage of the SFI student leader being chained to the bed was shown on television.
"The West Bengal government is claiming that it is a government with a human face. But the condition of human rights in Bengal is worse than the days of emergency," Left Front Chairman Biman Bose said.
"The incident is condemnable. It should not have happened, " WBPCC president Pradip Bhattacharjee said.
Human rights activist Sujato Bhadro said it was a gross violation of human rights.
"You can never do such thing with an accused. He is yet to be proved guilty. Even if he is proven guilty you can't chain him when he is under treatment. This is a gross violation of human rights," he said.
