Kolkata:
Internationally-acclaimed scientist Partho Sarothi Ray, who was arrested earlier this month for his alleged role in protests against slum evictions in Kolkata, has been released from Alipore jail. Professor Ray was granted bail yesterday.
The molecular biologist was arrested on April 8 after he participated in a peaceful sit-in protest at Ruby More against the March 30 eviction drive at Nonadanga slum in east Kolkata. He was however charged with assaulting policemen during a lathicharge on protesters at Ruby More on April 4.
Professor Ray's lawyer claimed he wasn't present at the protest site on April 4. At the time of the agitation, he said, he was taking classes at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research at Mohanpur in Nadia district, which is a two-hour drive from Kolkata.
After his arrest, leading scientists from India and abroad wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sought his immediate intervention. They said they were "extremely perturbed" over the alleged "crackdown on human rights activists and citizens who are attempting to raise issues of concern".
They also condemned police action against another West Bengal-based scientist, Prof Ambikesh Mahapatra. The Jadavpur University professor was arrested last week for forwarding a controversial cartoon of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The cartoon shows Ms Banerjee and new Railway Minister Mukul Roy planning to get rid of party MP and Mr Roy's predecessor, Dinesh Trivedi. The professor was charged with hurting a women's modesty, defamation and causing offence using a computer.