The National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court here on Tuesday asked the Guwahati Central Jail to submit a report on the health of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader Akhil Gogoi on Wednesday.
The directive came after Akhil’s wife, Gitashree Tamuly, moved court seeking its intervention in providing proper medical treatment to Akhil, who has been reportedly suffering from serious health ailments in judicial custody. He is currently lodged in Guwahati Central Jail.
In the petition, Tamuly said Akhil has been suffering from illnesses such as urinary tract infection and high fever, accompanied by stomach ailment and backache. She sought directions from the court to address his health condition. The counsel for the petitioner, advocate Santanu Bor-thakur, said, “The court has called for a report from the superintendent of the Central jail regarding the present health condition of Akhil. The court also asked the authority to submit the report tomorrow. In the meantime, the court asked the jail authority to continue providing him proper treatment, including check-up by Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) specialists, if necessary.”
On Wednesday, the court will also take up the matter in which the NIA has sought the court’s permission to take a voice sample of Akhil.
On Saturday, Akhil was taken to GMCH after he was reported to be suffering from stomach ache and fever. But after multiple medical tests, he was taken back to the jail.
The KMSS leader’s illness came a day before Akhil and three other KMSS leaders were slated to stage an indefinite fast in the jail from March 1 against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Later, the fast was “postponed” considering his health issues.
Besides Akhil, KMSS members Dharjya Konwar, Bittu Sonowal and Manash Konwar are lodged in the jail in connection with a case registered by the NIA under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
The activists of the KMSS’s Tengakhat unit and Anti-Corruption Youths’ Power, Assam, on Tuesday staged a road blockade in Deohal Tiniali in Tinsukia district, demanding Akhil’s release.
Additional reporting by Pradip Kumar Neog in Duliajan
