Assaulting UP Covid warriors to invite harsher action

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, April 29

The UP Government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has decided to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 to ensure stricter punishment for those assaulting, insulting or spitting on corona warriors, including doctors, paramedics, police personnel and sanitary workers.

This comes days after the Central Government brought an ordinance to protect mainly health workers.

According to Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Avanish Awasthi, the amended ordinance (Uttar Pradesh Epidemic Disease Covid-19 Regulations, 2020) will be brought soon.

It is proposed that the ordinance will have provision for fine up to Rs 5 lakh and jail term up to seven years. The amendment comes into effect as soon as the ordinance is issued.

Awasthi said the CM had also directed officials to add 52,000 additional beds in Covid hospitals across the state.