Akhil Gogoi, 32 others test Covid +ve in Guwahati jail

GUWAHATI: Leader of peasants' rights organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) Akhil Gogoi, who is lodged in Guwahati Central Jail on charges of sedition, on Saturday evening tested positive for Covid-19.
At least 55 inmates in the prison, along with Gogoi, have contracted the virus so far - including 33 on Saturday - triggering fears that the jail may turn into a new Covid-19 "hotspot".
Akhil has been in jail since December last year for his role in protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). A case was registered against him by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged nexus with Maoists.
Kamrup Metropolitan District declared the Guwahati Central Jail premises as a containment zone.
Dasarath Das, inspector general of prisons, Assam, while confirming the development, told TOI, "Akhil Gogoi and two other inmates tested positive for Covid-19 in the antigen test on Saturday evening. All together, 15 inmates underwent antigen tests."
It is not known yet how all of them got infected with the virus. The IGP said visitors had been restricted owing to the rapid spike in the number of cases.
Gogoi has been in detention since December 16, 2019, in connection with an NIA case (13/2019) under Sections 120B, 253A, 153B of the IPC and Sections 18 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The police arrested him from Jorhat on December 12, when the anti-CAA protests turned violent in Guwahati.
The jail authority has started conducting the Covid-19 test following the direction of the NIA court. KMSS had earlier claimed that Gogoi had been infected with the virus. The lawyer representing Gogoi said his client was suffering from cough, fever, and body aches over the last few days.
Das said swab collection for the Covid testing is going on in the jail and over 135 inmates undergone tests so far. Altogether, 115 swabs were taken on July 4, July 5 and July 7 and 20 inmates were tested by the rapid antigen test. Most of the positive cases in the prison were contacts of two jailed members KMSS - Dharjya Konwar and Bittu Sonowal - who tested positive on Wednesday night.
All positive patients have been shifted to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital and Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital, Guwahati (MMCH).
There has been a widespread demand for Gogoi's release from prison. The opposition Congress, AIUDF, CPM, influential students union AASU, AJYCP, leading citizens, university students and various local and ethnic organisations sought the release of the peasant leader.
With the reports of the 55 cases in the state jails, the number of positive cases has gone up to 57.
The jail houses 1,098 inmates, compared with the official capacity of 1,000. "Rapid transmission on the jail premises cannot be ruled out, considering that the current number of prisoners exceeds the total capacity by almost 10%. Jail authorities are trying to strictly enforce social-distancing and mask usage inside the jail premises," a source said.
A March 23 order from the Supreme Court directed that all states and Union Territories to set up high-level panels, which would consider releasing on parole all convicts jailed for up to seven years to decongest prisons in the wake of Covid-19. Altogether 5,900 inmates and undertrials have been released from Assam jails on bail and personal bonds since the coronavirus outbreak in March.