Locals Block Cremation Of Elderly Covid-19 Suspect In Ambala; Pelt Stones At Cops, Doctors

Last week, the government amended the law to protect frontline workers following reports of attacks on doctors, health workers and police in different parts of the country. As the demand from the community to protect them amid the pandemic intensified, the attack on such people was made a non-bailable offence.

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However, even after strict laws were introduced, many frontline workers were still attacked and met with protests.

On Monday, residents of a village in Ambala reportedly clashed with the police and threw stones at doctors as they protested the cremation of a COVID-19 suspect, according to a report by NDTV.

#WATCH Haryana: A clash broke out between police & locals after the body of an elderly woman, possibly infected with #COVID19, was brought to the designated cremation ground in Chandpura, Ambala. (27.04.20) pic.twitter.com/BQEXHOAkxx

¡ª ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2020

This place is the designated cremation ground for #COVID19 & likely cases, locals objected when we brought the body here. Around 200-400 people gathered here violating the lockdown, police & doctors team was attacked. Strict action will be taken: Ram Kumar, DSP Ambala pic.twitter.com/StIUHunXaO

¡ª ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2020

Retaliating to the attack, police cane-charged a group of people in a village after hey tried to disrupt the cremation of an elderly woman over suspicions that she might have died of COVID-19 infection.

Residents of Chandpura village, adjoining the Ambala cantonment, attempted to disrupt the last rites of the woman being performed at the local cremation ground in the evening, the police said.

The villagers suspected that the woman might have died of COVID-19 infection and feared that the cremation would spread the virus in the area, they said.

The crowd was assured that there was no such risk and asked not to oppose the cremation, police officials said.

According to a PTI report, the woman died at a civil hospital at Ambala Cantt in the afternoon.

She had been admitted there after complaining of breathing problems.

AFP

As a precautionary measure, doctors collected her sample and sent it for coronavirus testing, hospital sources said.

When the relatives of the deceased reached the cremation ground at Chandpura, the villagers opposed them, the police said.

Following reports of tension, senior police officers reached the area but the villagers refused to budge.

Later, police had to resort to mild lathi charge to control the situation. The deceased was cremated there in the presence of the police.

Superintendent of Police, Ambala, Abhishek Jorwal told PTI around a dozen villagers were taken into custody and further investigations were underway.

According to the amended law, the offence would attract a minimum punishment of seven years imprisonment and Rs 5 lakh fine.