Malayalam journalist Siddique Kappan, lodged in Mathura Jail in Uttar Pradesh under draconian UAPA in Hathras conspiracy case, tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Kappan has been shifted to jail hospital after his health condition deteriorated.
Raihanath, wife of Kappan was informed about her husband testing positive through the lawyer Wills Mathews.
Kappan who was arrested on 5 October last year while on his way to Hathras to report on the gang rape and murder of a Dalit girl, completed 6 months in Mathura jail last week.
Two weeks ago, a 5,000 page charge sheet was submitted by UP Police against Kappan and seven Muslim youths. The UP Police claim that he was part of a conspiracy to disrupt peace in UP’s Hathras district after a 19-year-old Dalit woman was gang raped by four upper-caste Hindu men before succumbing to her injuries. Kappan and his lawyers have maintained that he was going to report.
The Muslim journalist was observing and breaking the Ramadan fast with curd and cucumber. Raihanath said to Maktoob this week that the family is trying to send some stuffed food items and dates but the COVID-19 situation is an hindrance to it as well.
