“This isn’t justice”: After suffering paralysis, Muslim activist yet not been granted bail ( Maktoob Media)

By ZENAIRA BAKHSH / Maktoob Media

Muslim activist and Campus Front of India leader Atikur Rahman has become “partially paralyzed” and is unable to recognize anyone due to medical negligence by the police authorities, claimed his wife, Sanjida Rahman, and his lawyer.

28-year-old Rahman, a patient with a heart disease called Aortic Regurgitation since 2002, is currently admitted in Lucknow’s King George’s Medical University (KGMU) hospital.

He was arrested in October 2020 along with journalist Siddique Kappan, Jamia Millia Islamia student Masood Ahmad, and a cab driver Mohammad Alam in Mathura when they were on their way to meet the family of the Dalit rape victim.

Soon, the four of them were detained under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). A year later, due to his worsening health condition, after an urgent plea was moved by his family in Allahabad High Court, Atikur Rahman was taken to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for open heart surgery.

After his heart surgery last year, a list of post-surgery instructions was mentioned in his discharge letter, reported The Quint including following dietary restrictions as well as visiting OPD.

In March 2022, the Mathura jail authorities wrote to Rahman’s family informing them that he is being urgently taken to AIIMS Delhi because he has complained of chest pains.

“He was kept in the hospital for 28 days and was then sent back to the hospital. About a month later, his health condition again worsened,” his wife, Sanjida Rahman told Maktoob. “Then there was no treatment at all until his condition worsened again suddenly. The doctors at KGMU suggested they take him to AIIMS, but they didn’t.”

Sanjida said that Atikur Rahman’s left side has completely paralyzed and he is no longer able to recognize anyone. “He didn’t even recognize his sons on the video call. My sons keep asking if he’ll ever recognize them again,” she said.

Atikur Rahman was a Ph.D. student at Meerut’s Chaudhary Charan Singh University and also the national office bearer of Campus Front of India, a student movement. He was also active during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests.

Sanjida Rahman said that her husband was again being taken to Lucknow this month when his condition worsened in the vehicle. “After his surgery last year, I have never been allowed to speak to him again. I would only speak to him momentarily when my father and brother-in-law would go to meet him,” she said.

This time after his condition worsened, Sanjida said that her father was informed about it. On reaching the hospital, the family saw that Rahman was “no longer in his senses”.

This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com . Read the full story here

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