Zonal DCs to take action against landlords evicting docs, paramedics
New Delhi: The government on Wednesday gave power to zonal Deputy Commissioners to take “strict penal action” against landlords who have been forcing doctors and paramedical staff, engaged in fighting the novel coronavirus, to vacate their rented premises. According to a government notification, such behaviour “not only strikes at the root of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic but also tantamount to obstruction of duty of essential services”. Invoking the Delhi Epidemics Diseases, Covid-19 Regulations, it said the district magistrates, zonal deputy commissioners of municipal corporations and the deputy commissioner of police are “directed to take strict penal action against such landlords and house owners under the relevant provisions of law”. These officials have also been asked to submit their Action Taken Report on a daily basis. The decision was taken after the resident doctors of India’s premier hospital AIIMS on Tuesday sought the government’s intervention saying their colleagues were facing eviction from their homes by their landlords, who fear the medical professionals at the forefront of the fight against the novel coronavirus could be infected. (PTI)
4 lakh masks worth Rs 1 cr seized
Mumbai: Acting to curb hoarding of essential items amid rising COVID-19 cases in Mumbai, police raided a godown in the city and seized four lakh masks, valued at Rs one crore, an official said on Wednesday. The raid was conducted at the Shah Warehousing and Transport Godown in suburban Mumbai, the official said. The Vile Parle Police received information on Tuesday night that a large quantity of face masks was stored in the warehouse. Police reached the spot and found 200 boxes of face masks valued at around Rs one crore, the official said. Police registered an FIR against five people including owner of the godown, agent and supplier at the Sahar police station but no arrest have been made, the official said. Deputy Commissioner of Police Manjunath Singhe said legal action is being taken against the five. Hoarding of essential items like face masks and sanitizers is an offence, he added. On Monday evening, the Mumbai crime branch Unit 9 had seized 25 lakh high-quality masks worth Rs 15 crore. (PTI)
Man booked for making false claim
Thane: A case was registered against a 40-year-old man who allegedly made a false claim that he was suffering from COVID-19 in Maharashtra’s Thane city, police said on Wednesday. An offence under section 505 (public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code was registered against a Thane resident on Tuesday, senior inspector Kishore Khairnar of the Kasarwadavli police station said. The man allegedly posted a message on a WhatsApp group stating that he had contracted coronavirus infection and that he did not wish to be admitted to a hospital till his condition deteriorates, the official said. When the message was brought to the police’s notice, a medical team rushed to the man’s house for verification and found that he had lied, he said. No arrest has been made in this connection so far, he added. The authorities have been taking strict action against rumour mongers and those spreading false information about COVID-19 on social media. (PTI)
WB man flees from isolation ward
Thiruvananthapuram: A man from West Bengal, who was under observation at an isolation ward for suspected coronavirus infection, fled from the general hospital here on Wednesday morning, police said. Police have launched a massive manhunt to trace the man, believed to be in his thirties. Messages have been sent to all police stations about the incident. (PTI)