People's Voice condemns the arrest and torture of a veteran woman activist of Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa, Sheila Didi. She has been first in the custody of Orissa police, and later of the Jharkhand police, since October 2006.

Sheila Didi came from a poor Adivasi family, and realised the need to build up a strong women’s movement to fight for their rights and freedom. She has been organising women to take up defence of their rights. However, she has been charged with “waging war against the state” and tortured in custody. She has even been denied proper medical care. Even though she was released from Rourkela jail on bail in July 2007, she was arrested as soon as she came out and more cases were foisted upon her.

People's Voice calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Sheila Didi and the complete revocation of baseless charges against her.