TWO HELD FOR THROWING BODY OF COVID PATIENT INTO RIVER

LUCKNOW: Two men, one of them wearing a PPE kit, were caught on tape rolling down a coronavirus patient’s body from over a bridge into river Rapti in Balrampur district, located 160 km north of Lucknow near Nepal border.

The incident came to light after video, shot by some people who were driving by the spot, went viral on social media on Saturday. The unidentified people were also seen tying a stone with the body.

Two men, one of them wearing a PPE kit, were caught on tape rolling down a coronavirus patient’s body from over a bridge into river Rapti in Balrampur district, located 160 km north of Lucknow near Nepal border.

The incident came to light after video, shot by some people who were driving by the spot, went viral on social media on Saturday.

The unidentified people were also seen tying a stone with the body.

Additional superintendent of police, Balrampur, Arvind Mishra said Sanjay Kumar Shukla and Manoj had been arrested.

“Both are the relatives of deceased Prem Nath Mishra, 68, a resident of Sohratgarh of Siddharth Nagar,” said the ASP.

“The investigation of the case is on, and efforts were being made to nab other persons involved in the incident,” said the ASP while adding, “The district police has registered a case under Epidemic Act against the culprits.”

Additional district magistrate (ADM), Balrampur, AK Shukla said, taking cognizance of the viral video, the district administration set up an inquiry.

Chief medical officer (CMO), Balrampur, Dr Vijay Bahadur Singh was directed to probe the case and submit a report.

The CMO, in his report, said the deceased, Prem Nath Mishra was admitted to the district hospital by the family members on May 25. Mishra was facing breathing problem. His sample was sent for laboratory test and when the test report was positive for Covid-19, Mishra was shifted to Covid ward on May 26. On May 28, Mishra died, he said.

The district hospital informed the family members about the demise of Mishra.

On May 29, Sanjay Kumar Shukla, the deceased’s nephew received the body. Under Covid protocol, he was provided the PPE kits as well as a hearse to carry the body to nearby Sisasi ghat for cremation.

“Instead of cremating the dead body, the family members dumped the body in the river with the assistance of a sanitation worker,” he said.

On the basis of the report of the CMO, a case was registered under Epidemic Act at Kotwali Dehat police station against Sanjay Kumar Shukla and other family members on Saturday night.

On Sunday afternoon, the police team arrested Shukla as well as Manoj.

“Both will be produced in the local court, attempts are being made to nab the remaining family members involved in the incident,” he said.

“On the directions of the state government, the district administration has made arrangement of free cremation of the bodies at various cremation grounds in the district,” said the ADM.

Instead of cremating dead body, family members dumped the body in the river with the assistance of a sanitation worker DR VIJAY BAHADUR , Chief medical officer, Balrampur