A FORMER Maoist cult leader, notorious for a series of sexual assaults and the prolonged captivity of his daughter, was found dead in his prison cell, an inquest has revealed.
Aravindan Balakrishnan, 81, from Enfield, who referred to himself as Comrade Bala, was serving a 23-year sentence at HMP Dartmoor when he died in April 2022.
Balakrishnan was discovered by a fellow inmate, and despite immediate attempts at CPR by prison officers, he could not be revived. The inquest at Devon Coroner’s Court confirmed that Balakrishnan died of natural causes.
Coroner Philip Spinney attributed his death to a lower respiratory tract infection, compounded by underlying conditions including vascular dementia, diabetes, and ischemic heart disease.
Balakrishnan, who had been housed in a wing for inmates with poor health or vulnerabilities, was described as “pretty frail” due to his medical conditions. The coroner's findings indicated no external injuries and a negative Covid-19 test.
Devon and Cornwall Police investigated his sudden death but found no suspicious circumstances. Pathologist Dr Russell Delaney corroborated the cause of death, stressing the natural progression of Balakrishnan’s ailments.
Balakrishnan had established the Workers' Institute of Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought in Brixton, South London, in 1974. Under his leadership, it transformed into a secretive cult.
He was convicted in 2016 on multiple charges, including rape, indecent assault, and false imprisonment, following a trial at Southwark Crown Court.
His daughter, Katy Morgan-Davies, who was held captive for three decades, publicly condemned her father after his conviction. She described the psychological and physical abuse she endured, likening her experience to that of a “caged bird with clipped wings.”
Balakrishnan's cult operated under strict control, with members believing in his supposed godlike powers. He maintained dominance through fear, claiming to command an invisible war machine capable of deadly force.
The inquest concluded without family members present, with the coroner affirming the death as natural causes.
FILE PHOTO: A general view shows British Steel's Scunthorpe plant, in Scunthorpe, northern England, Britain, March 31, 2025. REUTERS/Dominic Lipinski
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. (Representational image: iStock)
FBU chief raises concern over rise in racist online posts by union members
THE FIRE Brigades Union (FBU) and other trade unions are increasingly concerned about a rise in racist and bigoted online comments by their own members and officials, according to Steve Wright, the FBU’s new general secretary, speaking to the Guardian.
Wright said internal inquiries have revealed dozens of cases involving members using racist slurs or stereotypes, often aimed at asylum seekers.
He said similar issues were reported in other unions, prompting a joint campaign to counter false narratives around immigration and race promoted by far-right groups online.
“People with far-right views are becoming more brazen in what they do on social media, and I’ve witnessed it with my own union around disciplinary cases and the rhetoric of some of our own members,” Wright said to the newspaper.
He added, “Some of our members and sometimes our reps have openly made comments which are racist and bigoted. In my time in the fire service, that has gone up.”
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. A formal statement addressing far-right narratives will be launched at the union’s annual conference in Blackpool next month.
Wright cited the influence of social media and figures like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage as factors contributing to these incidents. “It feels like an itch that we’ve got to scratch,” he said.
The FBU barred a former official last year for allegedly endorsing racist content on X, including posts from Britain First and Tommy Robinson.
Wright also warned that the union could strike if the government moves to cut frontline fire services.