Amit Shah chairs review meeting as cases spurt among paramilitary personnel

The paramilitary forces are witnessing a spike in the growth rate of confirmed Covid-19 cases as the tally is now over 380 and the death toll has risen to 3. Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a review meeting to check the preparedness of the force and safety of CAPF personnel.

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairs review meeting of Director Generals of all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) amidst growing number of COVID-19 cases among Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the virus reaching MHA control room in the national capital.

According to reports, measures taken to ensure safety and well being of all CAPFs were discussed in the meeting along with the efforts put in by the forces to tackle the virus spread.

Besides, suggestions including changing certain arrangements in Mess and staying facilities in barracks, boosting immunity as per AYUSH ministry guidelines and proper personnel management were tossed up during the meeting.

The home minister also stressed upon timely payment of dues in case of casualities. The meeting was attended by MoS (Home Affairs), Nityanand Rai, along with DGs of CAPFs and other senior officers of the Ministry.

The paramilitary forces are witnessing a spike in the growth rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases as the tally is now over 380 and the death toll has risen to 3. On Thursday, two personnel of the BSF have succumbed to the COVID-19 infection.

This is the third COVID-19 death in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). On April 28, a 55-year-old sub-inspector of the CRPF personnel succumbed to the infection.

With 193 positive cases, the BSF has now the highest number of coronavirus infected personnel among CAPFs while the total number of infections or active cases in the CRPF now stands at 158.

So far, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has recorded a total of 22 Covid-19 cases. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) had said that the number of infections in its force rose to 45. The Sashastra Seema Bala (SSB) have four COVID-19 cases. As per the data, majority of CAPFs infected with COVID-19 are from Delhi.

On May 3, Ministry of Home Affairs had written a letter to all states and UTs regarding guidelines and protocols on prevention of COVID-19 for Police/Security Personnel (CAPFs) managing the public and asked chiefs of CAPFs and DGsP to consider the option of work from home for personnel not deployed on the frontline and where feasible.