Maharashtra’s Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, while visiting Pune on Sunday, stopped by the Express Highway at Kiwale Fata and interacted with the on-duty police officers and staffers to enquire about the facilities available and the difficulties they are facing.
During the interaction, it came to light that one of the police officers on duty had a birthday. Sub-Inspector of Police Shrikant Jadhav, the birthday cop, was appreciated by the Home Minister for doing his duty away from his family despite his birthday.
Speaking to the media personnel in Pune, the Home Minister highlighted how Maharashtra Police officials are battling coronavirus at all fronts. “Till now around 3,000 police personnel, including officers and constables, have tested positive for coronavirus. Over 30 deaths have been reported,” he said.
Deshmukh further appreciated the policemen who, despite the threat to their lives, are on toes and maintaining law and order amidst the pandemic. “Police force has held its ground for around three months while being deployed at isolation facilities, quarantine wards, hospitals, at checkpoints, or in any other duty. And since they are on the frontline duties, the number of officials who have contracted the virus is relatively high.”
Deshmukh also participated in the make-shift birthday celebrations on the road, and cut the cake for the birthday cop, wishing him a longer and healthier life ahead.
Considering the inevitable threats that the virus poses on frontline police officials, especially the elderly ones, policemen aged between 50 and 55 have been given lowrisk postings, and cops aged more than 55 have been told to stay in their homes till the situation improves, while their salaries will be deposited into their respective bank accounts.
“As a precautionary measure, around 23,000 police personnel are being given low-risk police station tasks while 12,000 more who are above 55 have been asked to stay home while their salaries are being paid,” said the state Home Minister.
“In every district, we have started dedicated hospitals for police personnel. We are ensuring efficacious treatment for them,” he concluded.