Cops cagey on border patrol as Covid stalks checkpoints

Gurgaon: A day after 12 cops at Kapashera tested positive for Covid-19, there was discernible concern among policemen on border duty, many of whom are reluctant to take up a job that leaves them exposed to the virus on a daily basis.
Since the lockdown, about 100 cops have been deployed at the Kapashera and Sirhaul borders, which have emerged as a major source of infection for the force.
On May 19, two policemen – one from Udyog Vihar police station and another from Bajghera police – had tested positive for Covid. While the first cop was posted in the Sirhaul containment zone, the latter was posted at Kapashera border.
According to sources in Gurgaon Police, apart from the 12 cops from Udyog Vihar police station who have tested positive, another 13 cops from DLF Phase-2 police station who were posted at Sirhaul border have been infected, but their reports are yet to be made official.
Cops on border duty expressed unhappiness, saying their families are worried about their safety.
“This is our job and we have to do it, but I would have been happy if I had been posted somewhere else,” a cop on border duty said. He also pointed out that performing his duty in the scorching heat while wearing PPE kit was not possible.
A woman cop posted at the border, who did not wish to be named, told TOI that they felt exposed and social distancing while dealing with commuters was tough.
“People often come very close while showing the passes or if they want to ask something. We keep telling them to stay away but it seems we cannot protect ourselves. Even if one of us is infected, it will spread in our entire group as we spent a lot of time together,” she said, adding that she is worried for her family, including her young child.
While the policemen, along with others including the SHOs, have been staying at their respective police stations to keep their families safe, they said that it’s not enough to check the virus from spreading.
“We sleep at the barrack at the police station but this is not safe. One or two cops may have been Covid-positive and others may have got the infection from them at both the police stations,” a policeman said.
A senior officer said if a cop shows symptoms, he or she is tested and sent to a quarantine centre, while samples of others at the police station are collected.
“Some cops have gone back home (out of Gurgaon) after falling sick but in most cases they refuse to go and prefer to get treatment first,” said the cop.
Meanwhile, senior police officers have been making efforts to keep the force motivated. On Wednesday morning, the SHOs and ACPs spent several hours with cops at the border.
“Cops are only human and it is natural to be worried about their safety. Junior cops at the border have some concerns and we are communicating with them,” said an officer.
Gurgaon police commissioner Mohammad Akil told TOI that more cases in the force were expected as cops were frontline workers.
He said that all measures were being taken to protect the health of policemen, and that they have been given the required PPE kits, high-nutrition food and vitamin supplements.