Hyderabad, Nov. 1 -- A former top Maoist has been on a hunger strike in solitary confinement at Cherlapally Central Prison since October 28, demanding the basic freedom to walk within the barracks premises.

Sanjoy Deepak Rao, who served as a central committee member of the CPI (Maoist), was arrested on September 15, 2023, is in solitary confinement for over two years.

Terming it a gross violation of Indian and international laws, the Indian Association of People's Lawyers (IAPL) questioned chief minister A Revanth Reddy, who also holds the home portfolio, whether he would retain the moral legitimacy to remain in power if Rao took an extreme step inside the prison.

"Do you have even the faintest awareness that 84 prisoners died in Telan...