SHILLONG: Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek said the police personnel who had visited Guwahati hospital are under quarantine.
In a written reply to a call attention motion tabled by Mayralborn Syiem (Congress) on Wednesday, Hek said that earlier, the health department had sought details of persons from Meghalaya who had visited Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) and Dr B Borooah Cancer Hospital for treatment or other purposes during the last 14 days from April 23 as part of tackling COVID-19.
In this connection, the Deputy Commissioner of West Khasi Hills had deputed an officer who helped in registering the names of five police personnel who had accompanied sick persons to GMCH.
A team under the District Surveillance Officer on May 12 had proceeded to 4th MLP Battalion, Sohpian, to register all the five persons and the food items were also distributed to them on the same day.
A report on the matter from the Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC), West Khasi Hills, said that a telephone call was received from the Deputy Superintendent of Police Headquarter, Nongstoin, that there were five police personnel, who had visited GMCH on April 29, while taking the injured persons — Kornelius Rabha (16), John Sangma (9), Ridalin Kynshi (27), Lister Marwein (49) and Yenda Puwein (40) — for medical treatment as they suffered burn injuries due to lightning strike at Nongspung Dalbari village.
“Since any person who had visited the hospital must undergo home quarantine, the five police personnel adhered to the directive and the EAC of West Khasi Hills had discussed on phone with the Deputy Superintendent of Police Headquarter, Nongstoin, that provision kits will be provided as per the government’s instruction and they have been delivered to the 4th Battalion, Sohpian,” Hek said.
The EAC advised the police personnel to shift to the designated quarantine centre set up by the district administration but the police officers stated that they would prefer to stay at 4th Battalion, Sohpian police quarter. The provision kits have also been provided on May 15 to the injured persons who were injured due to lightning strike including, Molina Pathaw, daughter of the deceased person, Rinu Pathaw.
