New Delhi- Concerns are rapidly escalating over the health of E. Abubacker, a 72-year-old former chairman of the Popular Front of India (PFI), who has been incarcerated as an undertrial prisoner for the past three and a half years. A coalition of human rights and democratic organizations, under the banner of the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), has issued an urgent appeal for his release on humanitarian and medical grounds, warning that his deteriorating condition could lead to another custodial death.

In a press note released today, CASR detailed the "rapidly deteriorating health condition" of Abubacker, a retired school teacher, journalist, and activist. He has been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and has been in custody for 42 months. The organizations describe the UAPA as "draconian" and are highlighting what they call the "shocking negligence of authorities towards the health and dignity of political prisoners."

According to the CASR statement, Abubacker is suffering from multiple severe ailments. His condition has worsened recently due to a serious chest infection accompanied by a severe cough, dangerous fluctuations in blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and a reported drop in his blood oxygen saturation. These complications recently necessitated his admission to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital in New Delhi from jail.

The press note outlines a long history of chronic illness for the 72-year-old, including Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, hypertension, and severe loss of vision. Most critically, he was previously diagnosed with gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, a rare malignant cancer, for which he underwent chemotherapy and surgery in 2020. CASR asserts that his "fragile condition requires constant medical supervision and assistance even for basic daily activities."

The coalition draws a stark parallel between Abubacker's current situation and a series of recent custodial deaths that they argue were the result of "deliberate denial of proper medical treatment."

"We cannot forget how Father Stan Swamy, an 84-year-old Adivasi rights defender, died in judicial custody after repeatedly being denied adequate medical care," the statement reads. It also cites the deaths of Pandu Narote, a young Adivasi prisoner; Prof. G.N. Saibaba, a severely disabled academic who was "forced to struggle for basic medical facilities"; and Kanchan Nanaware. CASR alleges that these deaths reveal "a disturbing pattern where political prisoners are slowly pushed towards death through systematic neglect."

The Campaign Against State Repression warns that Abubacker's continued incarceration in his current critical state "risks repeating the same tragic history." They have issued a call to action, urging civil liberties organizations, democratic rights groups, human rights defenders, lawyers, intellectuals, and concerned citizens to raise their voices.

"If we have learned anything from the deaths of Stan Swamy, Pandu Narote, G.N. Saibaba and Kanchan Nanaware, it is that silence allows such custodial deaths to continue," the note states emphatically. "We must act now to ensure that history does not repeat itself."

The coalition has put forward a three-point demand:

1. Immediate release of E. Abubacker on humanitarian and medical grounds.

2. Provision of proper medical treatment without delay.

3. Protection of the right to life and dignity of all political prisoners.

The press note was issued by the Organising Team of CASR and is endorsed by a long list of organizations, including AIRSO, APCR, ASA, BASF, BSM, Bhim Army, BSCEM, CEM, Collective, CRPP, CSM, CTF, DISSC, DSU, DTF, Forum Against Repression Telangana, Fraternity, IAPL, Innocence Network, Karnataka Janashakti, LAA, Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan, Mazdoor Patrika, NAPM, Nazariya, Nishant Natya Manch, Nowruz, NTUI, People’s Watch, Rihai Manch, Samajwadi Janparishad, Samajwadi Lok Manch, Bahujan Samajwadi Manch, United Peace Alliance, WSS, and Y4S.