Police have registered a case against the relatives of a coronavirus victim at Batpora area of Srinagar, for allegedly violating COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), laid down by the Union Health Ministry, during funeral of the deceased last week.
Unnamed official sources told a local news agency, Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that the police have filed an FIR against relatives of COVID-19 victim who died last week at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital. Unnamed sources said the next of kin of the deceased not only gathered in large numbers on the funeral of the deceased but also pelted stones on ambulances and other vehicles deputed with the team of health officials.
Taking cognizance of the incident, the police registered a formal case under FIR number 79/2020 under section 147, 188, 427 IPC at Police Station Kralpora and investigation set into motion to ascertain facts.
The deceased from Batpora Kralpora, was admitted at SMHS hospital on 23 August after being diagnosed with COVID-19. He died the next day.
“Dead body of the deceased was brought to his home in an ambulance, by the health authorities for burial purposes, as per the guidelines laid down by the government. However the relatives of the deceased gathered in a large number on the funeral of the deceased thereby violating prescribed COVID guidelines,” they said.
A police official while confirming the incident told KNO that a formal case under relevant section of Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered at Kralpora police station and investigation taken up.
Authorities have appealed to the general public to strictly adhere to the guidelines laid down by the government vis-à-vis COVID-19 pandemic. (KNO)