Varavara Rao Tests Positive For Covid-19

Revolutionary poet Varavara Rao, who was lodged in Taloja jail, Mumbai, tested positive for Covid-19. This was confirmed by the doctors at a hospital in Mumbai, where he is undergoing treatment. Varavara Rao was arrested in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case 22 months ago.

Eighty-year-old Rao was admitted to the JJ Hospital in May after he suffered a brief illness but was sent back to the jail even without complete treatment. Since then, his condition has been failing.

Following demands from his family and people’s rights organisations that he should be provided proper treatment, Rao was again shifted to JJ Hospital in Mumbai. During fresh tests held there, it has been confirmed that he tested positive for Covid-19.

A couple of days ago, Rao’s family members addressed the press and demanded that the officials should not kill him behind the bars. Sensing that Rao’s health was not proper during the routine phone calls made to them from the jail, his family members have been demanding that he should be released for health reasons.