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MUMBAI: With the number of covid-19 cases steadily increasing in Maharashtra and the increasing number of police officers who tested positive for the disease, the state government on Wednesday sought the deployment of at least 2,000 people from the Central Armed Police Force.
“With the increasing number of covid-19 cases in Maharashtra, the police department is working around the clock. Ramzan Eid will also be performing, which will increase the duties of state police personnel … Therefore, the Maharashtra government has asked the central government to deploy the police of 20 companies under the force of the CAPF central armed police ” said Anil Deshmukh, home minister, Maharashtra.
CAPF includes armed police from CRPF, CISF and BSF.
According to Deshmukh, at least 819 state police personnel have tested positive for covid-19 and seven of them have succumbed to the disease since the closure was imposed on March 25.
Maharashtra, the most affected of all states, has so far reported 24,427 covid-19 cases, with 1,026 new cases in the past 24 hours.
Across India, cases were 74,281 as of Wednesday.
The policemen have been on the front line, along with medical personnel, in the fight against covid-19, working 24 hours. Since the closure, Maharashtra police have registered up to 1,04,449 crimes under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, making 19,838 arrests and confiscating 56,473 vehicles.
“There is a steady increase in the number of covid-19 calls on the 100 police helpline. Up to 89,738 such calls have been received,” Deshmukh said Tuesday, adding that at least 212 cases have been reported. of assaults on police.
Police have also been assisting with migrant relief efforts and ensuring smooth delivery of essential services.
On Tuesday, Maharashtra’s chief minister Uddhav Thackeray asked division commissioners and district collectors to prepare a roadmap to ease the blockade, while asking them to find ways to boost the state’s health infrastructure.
The third phase of the national closure is scheduled to end on May 17.
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