Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh): Ahead of the massive COVID-19 vaccination drive in India scheduled to take place on January 16, security has been beefed up in Naxal-hit areas in Chhattisgarh for the safe inoculation jab.
According to specific intelligence inputs, Naxalites in the area impacted by Left Wing Extremists can steal Covid-19 vaccines.
The biggest challenge for the administration in the Naxal-infested Bastar region of the state is to transport the COVID vaccine to the interiors.
According to police sources, Naxalites may attempt to steal vaccines amid the threat of COVID.
However, the Bastar Police has expressed confidence that it will successfully deliver the vaccines to the respective centres. Paramilitary forces have reportedly been deployed for the task.
According to reports, the Naxals themselves are falling prey to COVID-19. During the lockdown, a woman Naxal commander was found in the jungles of Bijapur district and was found to be COVID-positive. Hence, the administration is expecting a bid by Naxals to steal vaccines.
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Police stated that all the preparations have been done for the transportation of the vaccines to the cold chain points and centres and special attention will be paid to Bijapur, Dantewada, Sukma and Narayanpur.
Bastar IG Sundarraj P said that the administration was operating according to the guidelines with respect to the transportation of vaccines.
Meanwhile, Dantewada SP Abhishek Pallava said that the police personnel will work in coordination with the healthcare workers for the safe delivery of vaccines.
Jagdalpur district administration has created a Task Force at the district level, block-level and for the city region for proper monitoring of Covid vaccination. All the police officials deployed in the area have been put on high alert after the intelligence inputs stated that the Naxalites can rob the COVID-19 vaccines.
Meanwhile, Health Services Bastar Division Joint Director Dr Vivek Joshi said that the state government had promised full security during the COVID vaccination process in Bastar.
The vaccination will only be undertaken during the day, and instructions have been received not to park the vehicles carrying the vaccine at isolated spots in Naxal-hit areas.
According to information received from the Bastar Police, during the vaccination process, preparations were being done to deploy over 2,000 security personnel from the state police and central paramilitary forces.
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