Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, has tested positive for dengue fever. The jail authorities say while he is now out of danger, he has been put on medications inside his high-security cell inside Arthur Road Jail.
“Kasab’s blood test reports have confirmed that he is suffering from dengue. He is being monitored by both the jail medical team as well as experts from J.J. Hospital. He is currently out of danger,” said special IGP (prisons) Vinod Lokhande.
When asked if Kasab needed to be hospitalised, Mr Lokhande said, “The doctors can take a call on that. But as of now, he is recuperating inside jail.”
Dr T.P. Lahane, dean of J.J. Hospital, said Kasab was suffering from fever for the past 3-4 days. “Our expert visits Kasab every day in jail. Around 3-4 days after he got fever, the jail authorities were asked to do blood tests to check whether he had got dengue. We put him on an antibiotics, course and on Sunday his temperature was 100 degrees Celsius. This shows he is responding to the medicine and is in good condition,” he said.
Another source from jail said the third test conducted on Kasab confirmed dengue. “Initially, the two tests showed negative results. But the third test confirmed it. Necessary precautions regarding his diet and hygiene in the cell are being taken and he is being monitored round-th-e-clock,” the source added.