Police stations, posts lack facilities to arrest Covid-19 spread

Ludhiana: Even as several cops have tested positive for Covid-19, Ludhiana commissionerate police stations and posts lack facilities to check its spread.
Though the 30 police stations and as many police posts here have foot-operated sanitizers, most of them do not screen visitors.
As a precautionary measure, some of the senior cops have set up cabins at their offices to maintain distance.
Assistant commissioner of police (Central) Waryam Singh said, “I have made a glass cabin at my office. While I sit in it, visitors are chaired at a distance and given a mic to speak. I am also installing a sanitization tunnel at the entrance of my office.”
The ACP claims to have spent money for his pocket to make these arrangements.
Assistant commissioner of police (Industrial Area-B) Sandeep Vadehra, too, has installed a same set-up at his office.
A TOI team checked a few police stations and posts and found them lacking arrangements despite receiving more footfall.
At Division 7 police station, a volunteer was checking the temperature of visitors with an infrared thermometer. However, while doing so, he failed to ensure social distancing. And at a room there, a cop and a visitor were without a mask.
At Kochar market police post, no cop was standing at the entry gate to check visitors. And inside the post, a mask-less cop was seen sitting with visitors without maintaining distance. The police post in-charge said, “We don’t have an infrared thermometer, but we ask visitors if they have fever. We accept their applications after sanitizing their hands and ensure they maintain distance.”
At Shimlapuri police station, a sanitization tunnel has been installed at the entrance.
An SHO said, “A glass wall between cops and visitors is not feasible. The department cannot spend so much to make the necessary arrangements in all police stations and posts. We will have to spend from our own pockets for this. Our work requires public dealing, therefore, we have to rely on awareness, daily exercises, a good diet and a strong immune system to escape Covid-19.”
Deputy commissioner of police (Headquarters) Akhil Chaudhary said, “Besides masks and sanitisers, thermal scanners have been provided to each police station for temperature checking. SHOs have been directed to ensure social distancing. I will get it checked if norms are not being followed.”