Four cops among 7 test positive in Phagwara, CID office sealed

Our Correspondent

Phagwara, June 21

On the directions of Phagwara SDM Pawitra Singh, the City police station here and CID office situated in the premises of city police station have been sealed as seven persons, including SHO city, his gunman, driver and one constable, an industrialist of local Hargobind Nagar, another of local New Patel Nagar and a resident of Bhularai village were tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday. ADC-cum-Municipal Corporation Commissioner Rajeev Verma while confirming said 42 policemen, including CID employees, besides all contacts of the positive patients including their family members have been quarantined at their respective premises and their samples are being taken for corona. Four of the positive cases have been home quarantined while one industrialist has been sent to a Jalandhar hospital.

He said samples of their close contacts were also taken and they were advised to self-quarantine.

ADC Verma has also ordered immediate sanitisation of the police station, Hargobind Nagar locality, Bhularai village and New Patel Nagar.

Phagwara SP Manwinder Singh, who rushed to the city police station for morale boosting of the cops, told this correspondent that SSP Kapurthala Satinder Singh has appointed Inspector Malkiat Ram, in-charge PCR Phagwara as officiating City police station SHO till the recovery of present SHO. The City police station would now be operational from PCR office at Phagwara-Banga road. Later, health authorities also advised SP Manwinder Singh for isolation.

The medical examination and test of their close contacts and other policemen in the police station were also being taken. Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner Deepti Uppal has instructed all employees and officers of all departments to take preventive measures while performing their duties.

The policemen, along with health staff, are among the frontline warriors. Besides performing their duties at checkpoints on city roads and chowks, they are also working in the police stations for day-to-day public dealings and work. Therefore, they are also at a risk of contracting the deadly virus that has claimed thousands of lives across the world.

There is panic among cops who have been working day and night fighting the coronavirus. The Covid-19 pandemic has almost reached community transmission stage and we do not know if a person coming to the police station is infected with the virus. “All we can do is to take precautions and measures to control its spread,” said a police official.