CRPF DG among 200 personnel quarantined

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 5

Source in the paramilitary force said they all were observing the protocol as a precautionary measure.

A decision to this effect was taken after a Chief Medical Officer of the CRPF was found Covid-19 positive and isolated and eight other officers were quarantined, the sources said.

A senior officer said those on the list made after contact tracing, including CRPF DG AP Maheshwari and Senior Security Adviser in the MHA K Vijay Kumar, have been advised home quarantine or quarantine at CRPF facilities till the test reports were out even though they have not exhibited any symptoms of being infected so far.

At least three Inspector Generals, whose wards returned from foreign countries, have also been quarantined as a precautionary measure. “Former CRPF DG Vikram Srivastava is also under self-quarantine as a preventive measure,” said the sources.

The CRPF chief, who is in home quarantine, is supervising the work of the force from home. While Maheshwari has not exhibited any Covid-19 symptoms, he is undergoing the quarantine drill as a precautionary measure, officials said.

A spokesperson of the force said, “A CRPF officer has been tested positive for Covid-19. All personnel in contact with him have been quarantined. The CRPF DG had an indirect contact with the officer. As per protocol, the DG is observing quarantine.”

“We will win together. The only mantra is social distancing. To all of us let this be the religion as well as spirituality of the day. Save oneself to save others. Save humanity,” Maheshwari has tweeted tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, PMO, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.