BENGALURU: Any attack on healthcare workers in Karnataka will now be punishable with up to 3 years in jail and fine of Rs 50,000.
A state ordinance to protect frontline workers against increasing resistance and violence over testing, surveillance and quarantining received Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala’s assent on Wednesday. The Centre, too, put in place a stringent law to punish attackers.
The new law in Karnataka also empowers authorities to recover twice the amount of damage caused to public and private properties by vandals. Authorities may also confiscate or attach properties of the attackers, if they fail to pay for the damages.
State law minister JC Madhuswamy told TOI that those who damage public or private property or incite others to do so will be jailed for six months to three years besides being fined.
Kerala and Uttar Pradesh have passed similar laws to punish attackers who target Covid-19 teams on the ground.
Law makes attacks on docs bailable offence
However, the new law makes acts of violence against doctors and other medical staff a bailable offence unlike the ordinance which was approved by the Union Cabinet.
The ordinance comes after attacks on Asha workers and Covid-19 teams on the ground across the state — more recently of health staff being threatened in the sealed Bengaluru ward of Padarayanapura on Sunday. More than 100 people have been arrested for the violence, which broke out when health workers and policemen were taking residents identified as primary contacts to a quarantine centre.
On Wednesday, cops picked up seven men for questioning and sent them back after their statements were recorded. A senior police officer said they are studying messages and videos exchanged between the accused.
A state ordinance to protect frontline workers against increasing resistance and violence over testing, surveillance and quarantining received Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala’s assent on Wednesday. The Centre, too, put in place a stringent law to punish attackers.
The new law in Karnataka also empowers authorities to recover twice the amount of damage caused to public and private properties by vandals. Authorities may also confiscate or attach properties of the attackers, if they fail to pay for the damages.
State law minister JC Madhuswamy told TOI that those who damage public or private property or incite others to do so will be jailed for six months to three years besides being fined.
Kerala and Uttar Pradesh have passed similar laws to punish attackers who target Covid-19 teams on the ground.
Law makes attacks on docs bailable offence
However, the new law makes acts of violence against doctors and other medical staff a bailable offence unlike the ordinance which was approved by the Union Cabinet.
The ordinance comes after attacks on Asha workers and Covid-19 teams on the ground across the state — more recently of health staff being threatened in the sealed Bengaluru ward of Padarayanapura on Sunday. More than 100 people have been arrested for the violence, which broke out when health workers and policemen were taking residents identified as primary contacts to a quarantine centre.
On Wednesday, cops picked up seven men for questioning and sent them back after their statements were recorded. A senior police officer said they are studying messages and videos exchanged between the accused.
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