CAPT TO DGP: PULL COPS OUT OF NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES

CHANDIGARH:EXPRESSING concern over increasing cases and fatalities in the state, chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday directed DGP Dinkar Gupta to create special covid reserves by withdrawing police personnel deployed on non-essential duties for the next few months.

Chairing a covid-review video conference, the CM also asked the police chief to tighten the noose against violators of safety norms, especially those found not wearing masks. He further directed the DGP to instruct SSPS of cities with large caseloads to strictly enforce all curbs and norms to check further spread of the disease.

As deaths per million in

Punjab increased to 7.7 per million, Amarinder directed the health department to identify containment and micro containment zones more quickly and clamp down on them with speed to check the spread of the pandemic. The state has 38 micro containment zones in 12 districts and seven containment zones in six districts.

He also called for immediate action to increase testing as per targets. He also asked the district administrations to strictly enforce all the latest guidelines with respect to restriction on gatherings.

The DGP said action was being taken against violators. There are a total of 125 active cases in the police force, with 161 of their family members also testing positive, he told the meeting.