She was directly sent to Ludhiana women’s jail,” SSP Garg said. (Representational Photo)

A 35-year old woman arrested by Sangrur police for drug peddling has tested positive for coronavirus following which 30 people, including seven policemen and en equal number of jail staffers. have been quarantined.

The woman was arrested by CIA staff of Sangrur police and sent to Ludhiana Women’s Jail on April 28. Seven policemen from Sangrur have been quarantined after she tested positive and her village Bagrian has been sealed, said Sangrur SSP Sandeep Garg.

Damanjit Kaur Walia, superintendent Ludhiana Women’s Jail, said that the woman came to Ludhiana jail on April 28 but Sangrur police officials were told to get her tested for coronavirus as per orders, before allowing her inside barracks. “She was tested and then kept in isolation since then. She did not mingle with other inmates,” said Walia.

An FIR against her was registered at Amargarh police station in Sangrur under the sections 21/29/61 and 85 of the NDPS Act.

SSP Garg said that woman was held with heroin. “She was arrested by CIA staff and seven of them who came in contact with her have been quarantined. We have also sealed her village Bagarian and contact tracing is being done. As per orders, Ludhiana women’s jail has been designated for new entrants to handle COVID pandemic and hence the woman did not enter Sangrur jail. She was directly sent to Ludhiana women’s jail,” he said.

Rajiv Arora, superintendent, Ludhiana Central Jail said that on precautionary basis, 16 other inmates who were admitted to women jail’s isolation ward and seven jail staffers have also been quarantined.

“Sixteen women inmates who arrived from April 26 to 28 and were in same isolation ward and seven jail staffers have been quarantined and will be tested,” he said