Mazdoor Adhikaar Sangathan president brought to Chandigarh for medical month after his arrest

Amarjot Kaur
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 20

The president of Mazdoor Adhikaar Sangathan, Shiv Kumar, 24, was brought by Haryana Police for his medical examination ordered by the Punjab and Haryana High Court at GMCH-32 here on Saturday .

Though his medical reports will be out on Monday, said lawyers who accompanied Shiv and the police, sources from hospital sighted concerns over the one-month delay in his medical.

Shiv was arrested by the Haryana Police on January 16 from Kundli border, say his aides, for mobilising the workers of Kundli Industrial area.

His father Ranbir Kumar and two friends Jasminder Tinku and Ankit waited at the park facing hospital’s Emergency building to catch a glimpse of Shiv.

Teary-eyed, his father broke down looking at his son’s limping gait.

“Kya gareebo ka bhalaai, adkikaar kay liye ladna itna bada jurm hai? (Is it a crime to fight for the rights of poor?),” he mumbles to himself.

He says, “I came here at 9 am to look at my son. I haven’t seen him since January 16 and even the police didn’t inform us about his arrest.”

Ankit, Shiv’s friend, added, “We got to know of Shiv’s arrest on January 31. On January 24, he was presented in court. None of us were told of his whereabouts. For eight days, he was illegally taken in remand by the police, where he was brutally beaten.”

He said, “He was not even given warm clothes or chappals in jail. In fact, he got his specs just a day ago.”

One of the medical staff was quick to notice the discolouration and swelling on Shiv’s feet.

On the condition of anonymity, the staffer said, “His nails are blue. His feet are swollen, despite the one-month delay. Do you expect the higher-ups in this government facility to give a statement against the government?”

Jasminder shared, “Madam, the situation at Kundli Industrial area is bad. The area’s industrialist association has formed a ‘quick response team’ which comprises paid goons to silence daily-wagers asking for their salaries.”

He added, “Shiv was mobilising these daily wagers to fight for their salaries, which have been withheld by these big companies for months now. This seems to be his fault.”

Soon after the medical, Shiv was taken back to the Sonepat District Jail. His father doesn’t know when he will see his son next. Shiv didn’t utter a word. The police held his hand, escorted him at all times in GMCH-32’s E-Block.