Assam: Police officials party on ship defying lockdown rules; probe ordered

The Commissioner of Police, Guwahati, MP Gupta has ordered a probe into the party on ship incident by some police officials on the river Brahmaputra, Assam on July 6^th, 2020.

During a telephonic conversation with the INSIDENE, Gupta said, “We have ordered an inquiry into the incident and the whole matter is under a joint CP level officer. We will take action as soon as the inquiry is completed. If anybody found guilty then the law will take its own course.”

After a video showing some police officials partying defying the lockdown rules surfaced, the Assam Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna on July 7^th, 2020 directed the CP to conduct an inquiry into the matter.

The urgent order states: “Enclosed please find a very damaging Newspaper report with photographs of Police Officers attending a party with alcoholic beverages reportedly during Curfew hours last evening and Lockdown. This reflects very poorly on the Policemen and displays a total disregard for orders under the Disaster Act.

Also read: Assam: Guwahati reports over 3000 COVID-19 cases in last 7 days

You are, therefore, directed to enquire into the matter, submit a report and initiate disciplinary proceedings with intimation to the undersigned It is also directed that policemen under your command may be directed to scrupulously follow orders issued by the Government and not display actions which are detrimental to the rule of law.”

It may be mentioned that Guwahati is currently under lockdown with certain relaxation. The lockdown was enforced to arrest the spread of COVID-19 in the city.

Guwahati alone recorded 3165 confirmed cases since July 1^st-7^th, 2020 while the state has reported 4789 cases. A total of 588 samples were tested positive for the lethal virus in the city while the state reported a total of 814 cases on July 7^th, 2020, the state Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted.

With these cases, the number of total cases has gone up to 13,336; of which 4988 are active and 8329 have been cured and discharged so fare while 16 died due to the infection.