HEALTH TEAM COLLECTING SAMPLES ATTACKED IN LUDHIANA VILLAGE

LUDHIANA : A health department team collecting samples for Covid-19 infection was attacked at Rachhin village of Raikot sub-division in Ludhiana district on Thursday morning.

Suraaj Mohammed (47), a health worker, sustained injuries on his forehead in the incident. He was rushed to the community health centre (CHC) in Pakhowal for treatment.

The incident took place at 11.30am when the health staff organised a sampling camp at the village.

Suraaj Mohammad told the police that Jaspreet Singh, a resident, got angry over being asked for giving his sample.

When Jaspreet started stopping others from giving samples, he along with health workers Harpreet Kaur and Paramjit Kaur objected to it, Mohammed said. An enraged Jaspreet smashed his forehead with a brick, he alleged.

Senior medical officer (SMO) Dr Sandeep Kaur said Mohammed was kept under observation for 24 hours.

The police registered an FIR against Jaspreet Singh under sections 353, 186 and 332 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Raids were on to nab him, officials said.

Terming this incident extremely unfortunate, deputy commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma said such acts were highly unwarranted and a strictest of actions will be taken against those trying to derail the efforts of the government to contain the virus spread.

He urged the residents, especially those from rural areas, to shun hesitancy on testing and immunisation as these were the most effective measures to keep the Covid-19 pandemic at bay.