Balladeer Sagar Gorkhe, who is held in a high-security ward in Navi Mumbai’s Taloja Central Prison as an undertrial in the Elgaar Parishad-Maoist links case, has been on a hunger strike since May 20.

A co-accused, activist Gautam Navlakha, has moved court for his mosquito net to be returned to him after it was seized on May 20. It had been granted to him on the recommendation of a prison doctor last year. Mosquitoes are endemic to the area and high-profile prisoners like Abu Salem were moved out in the past for fear of malaria.

In 2020 another co-accused, 84-year-old priest Stan Swamy, had to move court for a straw and sipper which he needed to drink fluids as he had Parkinson’s disease. He succumbed to post-Covid complications last year. Academic Anand Teltumbde has been denied a cot in this prison despite suffering from spondylitis.

Gorkhe and Navlakha are in jail facing terrorism charges along with 11 others — nine of whom are in Taloja. Two others are out on bail. Gorkhe performed at the Elgaar Parishad along with his group Kabir Kala Manch. Navlakha did not attend the event organised on December 31, 2017.

They are being probed for alleged Maoist links to the Ambedkarite event that was followed by caste clashes the next day that claimed one life. Gorkhe’s demands include proper medical services and action for alleged negligence by prison doctors and medical officials, ending the vetting of letters and books during which he claims items are stolen, providing 135 litres of water per day per prisoner instead of the 15 being given now, and a visiting room and a proper token system for guests.

Kumar told The Telegraph that Gorkhe’s hunger strike was prompted by the raid on his cell and snatching of his mosquito net. The lawyer said they were yet to hear from the authorities and that Gorkhe’s cell was turned upside down last September and again during another raid.

“They specifically took away his net and not those of all the prisoners,” he told this newspaper.

Navlakha’s partner, author Sahba Husain, said Navlakha wrote to her on May 20 about the snatching of his mosquito net and the lack of water.

“They all protested when this raid happened…. Gautam survived a serious bout of malaria years ago, and the jail doctor said he needed to use a net. The water shortage is worse in the general barracks, and they get skin diseases. What is happening is absurd and ridiculous,” she asked.

“Gautam said that the jail hospital was a nightmare and they aren’t taken to any proper hospital outside. Who will be responsible if anything happens to another one of them?” Husain said.

Walse-Patil and prison officials did not respond to emails and WhatsApp messages from this newspaper. An official said mosquito nets were usually disallowed under rules that prohibit objects that can be used to commit suicide. He said mosquito repellents and water were available for sale at jail canteens.