In UP, mob attacks docs, cops with kin of COVID patient, Yogi slaps NSA

A team of medical personnel and police, escorting family members of a person who died of COVID-19 in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, to a quarantine facility, were attacked by a mob of around 100 men in the locality.

Stones were thrown at the ambulance carrying the team, injuring the medical team and others on the vehicle.

Taking cognisance of the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the National Security Act (NSA) would be slapped on those responsible for the act.

In a statement, the CM said, “Doctors, health workers, officers and workers associated with sanitation work, police officers are working day and night at this time of crisis. Attacking these people is an unforgivable crime. Action will be taken against those guilty under the Disaster Management Act and NSA.”

He added, the loss of state property will also be strictly compensated from those responsible.

According to the ambulance driver, when their team boarded the ambulance, a crowd of nearly 100 people started throw stones.

Amit Pathak, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Moradabad said, “A COVID-19 positive patient had passed away in Nagphani area. In this regard, the patient’s first contact, his family members, were to be quarantined. A medical team and police team had visited for the same.”

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With the situation now under control, he added, “When the family members came out, a crowd started pelting stones. The ambulance and police vehicle got damaged. We are sending the family members to the quarantine centre. We will identify the people involved in this incident and strict action will be taken against them.”

Pathak said that some members of the medical team had received injuries.

“This is a violation of Section 144 and Epidemic Diseases Act, Disaster Management Act. Action will be taken under the National Security Act also,” Pathak said.

Tatpal Singh, a pharmacist who was present at the site of the incident said,”We received orders to shift family members of a person who died due to coronavirus to another place. Four police personnel also went there along with us.

“The family members were ready to come with us. But locals arrived and refused to let the family members go. Later, they got into a verbal fight with the police and started pelting stones.”