THE Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) demanded the release of all political prisoners yesterday, amid growing concerns over the deteriorating health of those held in India’s overcrowded jails.

Conditions in the prisons, which lack even basic facilities, were described as “deplorable” and said to have “contributed immensely” to the declining health of the inmates.

According to the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, 805 inmates and prison staff in India had tested positive for coronavirus up to June 30.

It was reported last week that peasant leader and activist Akhil Gogoi had contracted Covid-19, leading to serious concerns about his well-being.

Mr Gogoi was jailed earlier this year on terrorism charges. Among the evidence against him presented by the Indian authorities was that he had read the Communist Manifesto, called friends “comrade” and greeted them with the words “lal salaam” (red salute).

Concerns are also growing for Professor GN Saibiba, who was jailed in 2017 on terrorism charges over suspected Maoist links.

He remains behind bars despite five United Nations special rapporteurs saying last year that his health problems “require immediate and sustained medical attention and are reaching a point of being life-threatening.”

The CPI-M demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners on bail and adequate medical care for them.