Kashmiri woman held for planning terror acts tests positive for COVID-19 in NIA custody

A Kashmiri woman, who was arrested earlier this year for allegedly planning a terror attack in country during anti-CAA protests, has tested positive for COVID-19 while in custody of National Investigation Agency (NIA). judge directed NIA to mit Hina Bashir Beigh to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital with immediate effect. court sent her husband Jahanzaib Sami and anor accused Abdul Basith to judicial custody in case after agency did not seek ir furr remand.

Her lawyer vocate M S Khan has filed an application seeking interim bail for two months for her, saying "Delhi is struggling to cope up with rising number of coronavirus positive cases" and that re is "lack of proper treatment facilities in government hospitals".

accused were arrested for allegedly promoting Islamic State's ideology and instigating protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Act, agency h alleged. COVID-19 tests of accused persons were conducted on June 6 on directions of court, while ir 10-day custodial interrogation ended on Sunday.

" report of COVID-19 test of accused persons namely Jahanzaib Sami and Mohd Abdullah Basith is negative but report of Hina Bashir Beigh is found positive," NIA informed court.

In bail application, which is likely to come up for hearing in coming days, vocate Khan said, "Delhi is struggling to cope up with rising number of corona positive cases that have gone up to 27,000 as of now and due to lack of proper treatment facilities in government hospitals, which has also been highlighted in media, Delhi government has been compelled to issue a list of 56 private hospitals for corona treatment."

three accused, allegedly having links with Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), were arrested by special cell of Delhi Police in March and later sent to judicial custody on March 23. Basith was alrey lodged in jail in anor case being probed by NIA when Delhi Police arrested him in present matter.

case was later transferred to NIA, which lodged a case on March 20 under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 124-A (sedition) and 153-A (provocation for causing riot) of IPC and sections 13 (punishment for unlawful activities) and 20 (being member of terrorist gang or organisation) of stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

NIA later approached a special court here seeking custodial interrogation of three accused, which was allowed for 10 days by judge on May 20, with a direction to Tihar jail authorities to hand over ir custody to NIA "after conducting ir COVID-19 test and ensure that its found negative".

NIA took ir remand on May 29 after test result h come negative. custody ended on Sunday. agency said accused were following ideology of ISIS and planning for a terror strike in India and also recruiting cres for ISKP.

"In one audio message Abdul Basith said to Jahanzaib to motivate and prepare some guys who may be used for lone wolf attack and kill people through a truck or lorry by running m over on people," Delhi Police h earlier said.

Police said that trio was in contact with Abu Ushman al Kashmiri, who is he of Indian affairs of ISKP.