Covid-19 quarantine team attacked by mob in Bengaluru; 54 arrested
Bengaluru/IBNS: At least 54 people have been arrested after a team of health workers and policemen were attacked in a West Bengaluru neighbourhood on Sunday evening, when they went to quarantine the people who had come in contact with three coronavirus patients, said media reports.
A ward in West Bengaluru's Padarayanapura locality was sealed after three people, who attended the religious congregation organised by Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi's Nizamuddin Marqaz mosque in mid-March, tested COVID-19 positive, the reports stated.
WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE ATTACK:
A large mob of 200 people attacked the health workers and policemen when they went to quarantine 58 people, who were believed to have come in contact with the three COVID-19 patients, said reports.
While some people agreed to cooperate with the health workers, the quarantine team had to retreat leaving behind 33 people who had to be put under institutional quarantine. Several reports have suggested that the Tablighi Jamaat congregation caused the biggest spike in COVID-19 cases in India with at least 4,000 case linked to the assembly.
According to an NDTV report, the people in the locality began removing the tin sheets that had been erected as barricades to mark the sealed area, when the quarantine team reached there at 7 pm on Sunday evening.
Even as the reports of attack on healthcare workers emerged, a senior officer of Bangalore Police said no healthcare worker was attacked and only some property was damaged.
According to the report, the locals were demanding on the spot test and it took some time to bring the belligerent crowd under under control.
Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has directed the police to ensure full security for the frontline health workers.
Police Commissioner has been told to provide full security to Asha workers and other officials. No attack on Covid Warriors will be tolerated.#covid_warriors #Covid19India
— B.S. Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) April 20, 2020
Union Health Minister Pralhad Joshi also condemned the attack and asked the Home Minister and DGP of Karnataka to take stern steps.
I strongly condemn attack on Police & medical staff at Padarayanpura Bangalore who were on a visit to check the quarantined ones
— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) April 20, 2020
Fight against Corona is human
Have spoken to Home Min of the state & DGP to take stern action
Among the 54 people, who were arrested, is a woman who allegedly instigated the locals, said the NDTV report.
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