Activists shocked by High Court verdict on Binayak Sen

The trial court verdict that sent DR Binayak Sen, 61, to a life term was widely slammed by human right activists in India and abroad, who say he was victimised by Chhattisgarh's Bharatiya Janata Party government for highlighting human rights abuses. (See: Chhattisgarh HC throws out Binayak Sen's bail plea)

''It's very disappointing but I am not going to stop now, will approach Supreme Court because I have no other options,'' Sen's wife Ilina Sen said in her initial reaction.

Earlier in December 2010, former chief justice of the Delhi High Court Rajendra Sachar had termed the conviction Sen by ther trial court in Raipur as "nonsensical" and "ridiculous" (See: Binayak Sen's conviction outright `nonsensical': Sachar)

Noted social activist Swami Agnivesh termed the high court ruling ''extremely sad''.

Agnivesh, who is presently in Chhattisgarh's restive Bastar region, told reporters, ''I was not expecting such a decision. Sen is a great social worker, I am really pained.''

Rajendra K Sail of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) said, ''It's highly unfortunate, I was expecting justice from the high court at least, but here too I was stunned.'' He said that right activists will now fight the case afresh in Supreme Court.