New Delhi: Former Delhi University professor G.N. Saibaba, who is serving a life term in the Nagpur Central Prison for alleged links with Maoists, has tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time during the pandemic.Saibaba, who has over 90% physical disabilities and has to use a wheelchair, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2017 by a sessions court in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district for Maoist links and engaging in activities amounting to “waging war against the country”. The court held Saibaba and others guilty under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.His wife, Vasantha, issued a statement on Monday (January 10) requesting the authorities to move Saibaba to jail. The prison, she said, had not yet told the family about his COVID-19 positive status.“He previously wrote to us saying that he was feeling extremely weak and was suffering from sleepless nights because of constant back and hip pain. I’m very worried how he will endure this COVID-19 attack, as he did not recover properly after the last time he got COVID-19. His immunity has become much worse and his body’s ability to survive is slowly dwindling. I urge the Nagpur jail authorities and the court to please urgently admit him to a hospital where he can be monitored, as his heart issue coupled with COVID-19 can cause serious complications,” her statement reads.In October 2020, Saibaba had gone on a hunger strike in the prison after the authorities allegedly denied him books, clothes and medicines for a month.
