PANJIM: Days after Crime Branch (CB) remained shut since one of its constables came in contact with a COVID-19 patient mid-last month, the premises re-opened with skeletal staff at work. Some of the frontline policemen, who took a backseat owing to the situation, are too back on field duty.
The constable, who triggered panic, is however not asked to join duty until further notice even as, Crime Branch Superintendent of Police Pankaj Kumar Singh said the former is “hale and hearty”.
“The constable has completed 14 days of self-quarantine period. In fact more than the mandatory quarantine period. He is in hale and hearty condition, and will be called on duty soon,” Singh told Herald on being contacted to know the latest on the functioning of one of the elite forces of Goa Police.
The constable has come in direct contact with his NRI relative, who was tested positive for COVID-19 and kept under hospital isolation. Herald, in its edition on March 29 had reported that he was tight-lipped that he had received his NRI relative from the airport mid-month. It was thereafter made known that the NRI was one of COVID-19 patients.
The policeman was tested negative for the infection but he was directed to self-quarantine. While most of the officers and personnel continued to remain on field, they were asked to not visit the office premises.
As the work has resumed, CB’s personnel on frontline duty are deployed in shifts.
SP Singh said, “The unit is working with skeletal staff while all those required on the field are continuing their duty. About the case investigations, SP Singh said that they will set priority on which case will be taken up for probe during this prevailing situation.”
