Suspected Maoist sympathiser finally admitted to AIIMS

Adivasi teacher and alleged Naxal sympathiser Soni Sori was admitted to Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences on Thursday afternoon, her counsel Colin Gonsalves told rediff.com.

AIIMS had refused to admit Soni Sori on Tuesday, in spite of directions to do so by the Supreme Court.

Soni Sori was arrested in October last year by the Chhattisgarh police on charges of having links with Maoists.

A bench of the apex court comprising Justice Altamas Kabir and Justice J Chelaeswar in an order on May 2 had directed the Chhattisgarh government to bring Soni Sori to AIIMS and conduct an independent inquiry over the allegations of physical torture while she was lodged in jail.

She had leveled serious charges of physical abuse and torture by the Chhattisgarh police.

Soni Sori had specifically accused Dantewada Superintendent of Police Anil Garg of having her tortured with electric shocks and beatings.

A Kolkata hospital had conducted a physical examination and submitted a report in December 2011. The hospital's report had stated that two stones were found in her private parts.

She was later shifted to the Raipur jail.

Gonsalves said he had no idea why Soni Sori was denied admission at AIIMS on Wednesday.

"I really don't know why she wasn't admitted yesterday, but I know that she was kept in the AIIMS police lock-up in the night," he said.

Speaking about her physical condition, Gonsalves said that Soni Sori is in constant pain. She is suffering from a severe stomach ache and a burning sensation in her private parts, he said.

He informed that Soni Sori is currently being kept in an isolated ward.

"She suspects that she may have severe urinary tract infection," he said.

Gonsalves stated that the doctors at AIIMS had not conducted a check-up on Soni Sori till Thursday evening.

The Supreme Court had also asked the hospital to set up a medical board comprising doctors from the gynecology, endocrinology and cardiology departments to conduct her physical examination and submit a report.

"The doctors have not had a look at her yet. But we have at least got her admitted to the hospital, which is a big thing for us," he said.

"We don't want the doctors at AIIMS to feel pressurised in any way. We should give them some space so that they are able to do their work well, conduct a thorough medical examination, and submit the report in time," he said.

Soni Sori has requested for a meeting with Himanshu Kumar, a Gandhian activist who has been working in the tribal belt of Bastar region for the past eighteen years.