New Delhi: The health condition of Atiqur Rahman, arrested along with Kerala scribe Siddique Kappan on the way to Hathras in October 2020 is reportedly deteriorating. His family members raised concerns over his health and Ashwan Sadiq, national general secretary, Campus Front of India (CFI) said that what is happening with Atiqur Rahman is severe medical negligence.
Rahman, a PhD scholar and member of the Campus Front of India, is suffering from aortic regurgitation (a heart disease). Speaking to ETV Bharat, Rahman's wife Sanjida Rahman said, "I am worried about my husband's deteriorating health. I spoke to him yesterday and he complained of vomiting, chest pain and loose motions. If he's not allowed for surgery in AIIMS then any serious thing can happen."
According to the lawyer of Atiqur Rahman, Madhuvan Dutt Chaturvedi, he was informed that Atiq has been admitted to the Mathura jail hospital since August 23, 2021. "He is a heart patient suffering from aortic regurgitation which is a life-threatening disease, if no proper medication is given. For the last 11 months, he is denied treatment and his medical condition is unknown to all of us," as per Chaturvedi.
"All our attempts and pleas submitted in the courts seeking advanced medical care were turned down several times," he added. Advocate Madhuvan Dutt Chaturvedi said Rahman's bail application was moved in September 2020 and it was rejected by session court on November 13 and now the bail application is pending before the Allahabad High Court.
"What is happening with Atiqur Rahman is severe medical negligence. He has done no crime except he fought for the justice of the Dalit girl who was allegedly raped in Hathras. The case is a fabricated one, planned to silence him and his fellows. The police couldn't produce any evidence yet to justify their claims against him," said Ashwan Sadiq, national general secretary, Campus Front of India (CFI)."Despite all the chaos, torturing a man and denying medical care and leaving him to die is unacceptable. The government along with the police are watching him die by refusing to provide adequate medical treatment," he added.
Also read: Journalist Siddique Kappan, others discharged in breach of peace case
Sadiq claimed that Atiqur Rahman, who belongs to UP, had participated in many Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests, he always spoke against the atrocities done by the state police. "So, considering this, to subjugate Atiqur Rahman and others, they were arrested in a fabricated case," he added. Sadiq said the court has not considered Atiq's plea with due attention. Hence, we request the high court must consider the petition, seeking advanced medical care immediately and grant default bail to all the accused.
Notably, the Special Task Force of UP police booked Rehman, who is a resident of Muzaffarnagar in UP, and seven others on October 4, 2020, at Maant in Mathura district when they were on their way to meet the family of the Hathras gang-rape victim and charged with sedition and under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
