Duty first: Delhi IPS officer puts corona fight before cancer care

TNN | Updated: Apr 26, 2020, 08:38 IST

Additional deputy commissioner of police Anand Mishra in hospital

NEW DELHI: Young IPS officer Anand Mishra, currently posted as additional deputy commissioner of police, outer Delhi, was unfazed when the doctors told him about a cancerous growth on his thyroid glands. He quietly continued with his service as a Covid warrior in the area where a large number of migrant labourers were stranded due to the lockdown.
However, during a recent check-up, the doctors advised an immediate surgery as the growth was spreading rapidly through his glands. Mishra had to be admitted to a hospital right after duty and operated upon. At present, Mishra is under 48-hour observation before doctors can come to a conclusion.
Senior police officers said the Mishra had been at the forefront of Delhi Police’s relief efforts in outer Delhi. “He would drive out with his team every day to monitor distribution of food among the stranded migrant labourers,” said a senior officer.
His colleagues said that on April 1, Mishra first reported about a pain in his throat and approached a doctor. After a few tests, including that of Covid-19, doctors sent his samples for a test that confirmed a cancerous growth.
“He did not lose his vigour for work, infact we did not know about it until lately,” said Delhi Police PRO Mandeep Singh Randhawa.
Doctors had advised an immediate surgery last week after a check-up. Colleagues said that he went on to conduct his duty till the day he was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, where he underwent a surgery.
“He was doing well after the surgery but doctors kept him under observation for the next 48 hours, which was considered to be critical,” said his cousin Jitender Kumar.