John Wilbert &Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Dec 09: Jitendra Narain, former Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands who is a accused in a gang rape case and presently in Judicial Remand was shifted to ICU of G B Pant Hospital of Port Blair Thursday midnight.
According to reports Narain was shifted to hospital after he complained about chest pain.
However, the G B Pant Hospital authorities banned photography and videography and a sign board was seen today inside G B Pant Hospital complex by media persons, against which many people have raised questions. There are others who raised questions on the timing of putting such restrictions.
Meanwhile, the CPI (M) has strongly condemned the action on the part of the authorities to ban photography and videography by the media in the GB Pant Hospital, Port Blair from this morning.
“This action of preventing the media from entering GB Pant Hospital is a direct attack on the freedom of press. Trampling media freedom, suppressing every voice and subjugating the free press have become the policy of the BJP-led government at the center and it is no surprise that the same is being implemented in Andaman & Nicobar Islands too,” said D Ayyapan,Secretary, CPI (M) A & N State Organizing Committee.
CPI (M) demanded that the Administration should immediately lift the restriction imposed on the media banning the photography and videography in GB Pant Hospital and uphold the freedom of press in these islands.
Earlier yesterday Narain’s bail petition was placed before the Division Bench of Justice JoymalyaBagchi and Justice Siddhartha Roy Chowdhury for hearing during which the Calcutta High Court sent the matter before the Circuit Bench at Port Blair for next hearing, it is reported.
Jitender Narain was earlier arrested on 10 November 2022 after his bail plea was rejected by court at Port Blair.
On October 27 Narain had reached Port Blair from Delhi following a Calcutta High Court order to appear before a Special Investigation Team, which is probing alleged gangrape charges against him.
However officials of Health Services in Andaman were unavailable for a comment in this regard.
