Samples taken before cop’s death: DHS

SHILLONG: The government, on Friday, refuted allegations in a section of the press that the test samples of the 1st Battalion constable were taken after he died, stating that it was done while he was gasping.
The death of the cop, identified as Ajay Baidya (54), at the Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) quarantine centre in 13th Mile, Byrnihat, on Thursday, was not due to COVID-19 but other ailments, said DHS (MI), Dr Aman War.
The DHS said that Ajay’s test result had come out negative, adding that he was a high-risk contact of a positive patient.
Giving details about the incident, he said that one of the policemen, who was on duty, had tested positive for COVID-19 and he was taken to a Corona Care Centre while his contact tracing was done.
After being identified as one of the high-risk contacts of the infected cop, Ajay was sent to the quarantine centre in Byrnihat.
“When we took Ajay to the centre, he suddenly developed some breathlessness because of some other ailments,” the DHS said.
He initially complained of stomach pain and later vomited blood and fell unconscious. Following that, he was rushed to the hospital where he was declared dead.