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A five-member team from the health department had gone to Taatpatti Bakhal on Wednesday to quarantine relatives and acquaintances of a COVID-19 patient, when an unruly mob attacked them with stones, injuring two women doctors.
The video of the attack went viral on social media.
“Based on the video footage, we identified seven persons who were involved in stone-pelting and arrested them,” deputy inspector general (DIG) Harinarayanchari Mishra told reporters here.
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The health department was carrying out an intensive exercise to identify relatives and acquaintances of a COVID-19 patient to isolate them as a precautionary measure to contain the outbreak, the senior official said.
Although the attack wasn’t pre-planned, rumours were spread on social media against the health departments campaign, he said.
“We are also tracking down people who are spreading these rumours on social media and taking legal action against them,” the DIG said.
The police have arrested seven men, between the ages of 21 to 50 years, three of whom have a criminal record, Chhatripura police station in-charge Karni Singh Shaktawat said.
The accused have been charged under sections 147 (rioting), 188 (disobeying order issued by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and other relevant provisions of the IPC, he said.
The police are on the lookout for at least 15 accused, who were involved in the attack, he added.
Meanwhile, Indore collector Manish Singh warned that the district administration will not tolerate such incidents and misbehaviour.
Taking note of the attack, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan warned that anti-social elements involved will not be spared at any cost.
Chouhan said he salutes health workers for their dedication and assured to take care of their security.