A group of Social activists and Scientists have sought the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s intervention for release of molecular biologist Partho Sarathi Ray, who was arrested by the Kolkata Police for his alleged role in protest against the recent eviction of slum dwellers in City’s Nonadanga area.

In a latter to the Dr. Singh they said, the Police used force in a peaceful demonstration by the concerned citizens against massive eviction drive of slum dwellers by the West Bengal Government without any rehabilitation measures. The signatory to the letter includes National Advisory Council Member Ms. Aruna Roy and noted Philosopher Noam Chomsky. Partha Sarathi Ray is a faculty member of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Kolkata and 68 others were arrested on 8th of this month.

According to official sources, 62 people were released on that day but Mr. Ray and 6 others are still in Police custody. The activists also criticized the recent harassment faced by Jadavpur University Professor Ambikesh Mahapatra, who was arrested and later released on bail for sending out E-mails with cartoons of Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee.