Miss my family, but people’s safety comes first, says cop

Amit Bathla
Tribune News Service
Panchkula, May 4

Head Constable Rajesh Kumar, posted at the Police Lines, makes sure he wears gloves and a mask to protect himself against Covid-19 before he steps out to begin his duty around 8 am.

Rajesh (40), who is currently deployed on the Panchkula-Chandigarh border near Housing Board Chowk, keeps a check on vehicles crossing the border. He, along with his fellow policemen, also assists medical professionals from the Civil Hospital in screening commuters entering Panchkula during his 12-hour law enforcement duty. “I know we can easily contract the virus, but in these trying times, it’s our duty to keep people safe. We have to play a pro-active role to contain the spread of the disease,” he says.

Rajesh has been avoiding going home in Karnal and stays at a makeshift accommodation as he does not want to put his family at risk.

“As per instructions from our senior officials, we check lockdown passes to ensure no non-essential vehicle enters Panchkula,” he says. Rajesh, a father of three, whose family lives in a Karnal village, says, “I miss my family and keep talking about them with my colleagues. At the same time, we can’t shy away from our duties.”