PhD scholar held with journo Kappan in jail hospital, kin say condition serious

Agra: A PhD scholar, 26, arrested along with Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan and two others in October last year for alleged sedition, was in a hospital for the last two days recuperating from what Mathura jail authorities described as “seasonal fever”. The family of Atiqur Rehman, however, claimed that he was suffering from a serious heart disease and needed immediate surgical intervention.

Rehman, Kappan and two others were arrested on October 5 in Mathura when they were headed to meet the family of a Dalit woman (19), who was allegedly raped and killed in Hathras district.

UP Police claimed that they were trying to disturb law and order and instigate violence in the state. All the four accused were booked under stringent sedition and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and sent to jail. Their applications seeking bail have been rejected.

“Rehman was suffering from fever. He is presently taking treatment at the jail hospital. Though his condition is fine, he will be under observation for a few more days,” said Mathura jail superintendent Brijesh Kumar.

The family, meanwhile, was worried.

It claimed that Rehman was admitted to the jail hospital after he started feeling breathlessness due to the Aortic Regurgitation (AR) -- a heart condition in which the aortic valve does not close tightly allowing the blood to flow from the aorta, the largest blood vessel, into the left ventricle.

Rehman’s wife Sanjeeda Rehman, who lives in Muzaffarnagar, told TOI that he has been suffering from the disease since he was eight years old. His surgery was scheduled for November 2020, but he was arrested a month before.

“He needs the surgery urgently as complications could lead to heart failure,” she said. Rehman’s bail application was rejected by a Mathura court on November 13, 2020.

“Rehman was taking treatment at AIIMS Delhi’s Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery department where doctors had diagnosed ‘severe’ AR. Bentall surgery was required for this disease,” she said.

“The estimated cost of the surgery was Rs 2lakh. His operation was due in November, 2018. But, due to poor financial conditions, we could not arrange the money. When we somehow managed money for the surgery, the next date was scheduled in November 2020. But Rehman was arrested one month before the operation,” Sanjeeda said.

“He can die, if the surgery is not conducted timely. His heart can fail any time,” she added.

Rehman’s uncle Shekhavat Khan said, “He was taken to SN Medical College, Agra earlier due to some complications because of his heart condition. His condition is not good.”

Rehman’s lawyer Madhuvan Datt Chaturvedi told TOI that he will move an application in local court on Tuesday to shift him to Delhi AIIMS.

His bail application is also listed in Allahabad high court and hearing on it will take place on August 25. “We hope the high court will consider his medical condition and allow him to get surgery done at AIIMS,” Khan said.