Indore, April 2, 2020: The head of Muslims in Indore has expressed his regret over a stone-pelting incident against health workers who had gone to test people for coronavirus.
“You should not fall prey to misunderstandings and help everyone. Take care of yourself and healthcare workers. We should support the administration to fight this disease,” Ishrat Ali who holds the post of Shahar Qazi (city Muslim head) appealed his people in the central Indian city.
He also said such incidents would not be tolerated because the healthcare workers had come to save people lives.
The incident took place at around 1 pm on April 1 when the healthcare team reached the city’s Taat Patti Bakhal area to check after it was reported that some residents had come into contact with COVID-19-infected people.
A group of men with covered faces accosted the healthcare teams and then pelted with stones at them. The mob also tried to break police barricading.
According to an NDTV report, two doctors were injured in the incident.
One of the doctors told the Free Press Journal that their team was talking to the people and taking information about the suspected persons when they were attacked.
The Tehslildar, a middle level administrative officer, and a police team were also with doctor’s team. The doctors and other health workers had to flee from there in Tehsildar’s vehicle.
A case has been filed under Section 353 of the Indian Penal Code against unidentified people.
Indore reported 12 new coronavirus positive cases on April 1, taking the total number of cases to 75 in the city. The total number of positive cases in Madhya Pradesh stood at 98 on that day.
Besides Indore, other Madhya Pradesh cities have also reported positive cases or coronavirus infection: Jabalpur eight, Ujjain six, Bhopal four, two each in Shivpuri and Gwalior and one from Khargone.
The federal Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on April 1 said India recorded 1,834 coronavirus positive cases as on April 1, including 1,649 active cases, 144 cured/discharged/migrated people and 41 deaths.
Source: freepressjournal.in