On a day DGP, J&K Police rewarded 230 police personnel for being at the forefront of Covid-19 battle, 55 of its personnel, including an SP Rank officer, tested positive for coronavirus in Anantnag. This is so far the biggest cluster of cops to have fallen prey to the infection. All personnel are said to be from armed police IR 11th battalion.
According to a senior officer in Anantnag, out of 102 cops who were tested, 36 were confirmed positive on Monday, and 19 had tested positive on Sunday. This spike of 55 cases has shot up the number of total Covid-19 infected personnel to 65.
According to sources, Anantnag Police is undertaking aggressive testing to identify Covid-19 cases.
Coronavirus cases in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has so far hovered around 1200 mark and over a dozen deaths.
According to a cop, the only silver lining for the personnel testing positive is that they remain “asymptomatic” but there is a concern regarding the spread of Covid-19. None seem to have a travel history, a reason why even police force has been baffled by its personnel turning positive for coronavirus.
India Today TV has learned that (District Police Line) DPL, Anantnag is being used as a collection point for Covid-19 samples. A cop serving in the region said that based on security concerns of doctors and paramedical staff, it was decided to have a testing center in a secure place.
While the cops have tested positive based on random testing, the results have only added to their worry.
A cop serving in the region, speaking to India Today TV on condition of anonymity, claimed there is a “community spread”. He also said the government has buried its head under the sand like an ostrich by calling it a local-level transmission.
Another cop said, “The police personnel are deployed in hotspots. They could catch infection anywhere and they share the same barracks.”
A senior cop said, “There is a huge concern regarding the spike in cases. We have told force personnel to take utmost precaution.”
A top officer said, “We will go for re-testing by next week because mass testing was done, and there could be a misreading of tests. All personnel are asymptomatic, so it is hard to believe they are infected.”
Several in the security forces, including Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel, have gone for a re-testing. However, the spike across the country amongst men in uniform is worrying.
In order to boost the morale of the police personnel at the forefront of the war against coronavirus, 230 corona warriors were bestowed with commendation certificates and cash rewards by the DG.
While Covid-19 cases have been rising steadily, DGP Dilbagh Singh carried out a review of preparedness of police force in Anantnag to fight the infection and the implementation of lockdown, besides focusing on security scenario.
Anantnag in South Kashmir, considered a hotbed of militancy, is now in news for being a Covid-hotbed.
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