Akhil Gogoi's rapid antigen test came positive on Saturday
Assam activist Akhil Gogoi who has been charged with sedition for protesting against the amended citizenship law has been tested positive for coronavirus. He has been lodged in Guwahati jail for the last few months in connection with a case linked to protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA.
His rapid antigen test was done on Wednesday and the result came negative. His samples were also sent to a Delhi lab where it came negative on Thursday. On Saturday, again his rapid antigen test was done, the result of which came positive. He was unwell since June 29, government sources added.
The state government has formed a five-member medical board to oversee his treatment, government sources further added.
Last week, a court of the National Investigation Agency or NIA directed Guwahati central jail authorities to immediately arrange for COVID-19 test for Mr Gogoi and two of his aides.
They are lodged at the central jail in Guwahati for the last few months in connection with a case linked to protests against the CAA.
The interim order from the NIA court came after Mr Gogoi's lawyers approached the court with a petition asking for immediate tests. They said the health condition of Mr Gogoi and his aides was getting so bad that they could not even appear for hearing via video conference.
The petition said Mr Gogoi and his two aides are suffering from fever, cough and body pain, which are considered symptoms of COVID-19.
His two close aides, Bittu Sonowal and Dhairjya Konwar, had tested positive earlier and are being treated at Guwahati Medical College.
Mr Gogoi and his aides are not alone, sources have added that over 50 inmates of Guwahati central jail including high profile prisoner like former insurgent leader Ranjan Daimary have tested positive.
The district administration has declared Guwahati central jail as a containment zone and all prisoners are being tested. The jail houses over a thousand prisoners. It is suspected that contamination spread from an asymptomatic COVID-19 inmate who was lodged inside last month.