Nine cops in Lalu security team infected

Ranchi: Incarcerated former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad, who is at the centre of political spotlight ahead of the impending Bihar assembly polls later this year, is under the scanner again after nine police constables posted in his security tested positive for Covid-19 late on Thursday night.
Lalu (73) was moved to the plush Kelly’s Bungalow on the campus of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) by the hospital management to isolate him from the risk of Covid-19 infection. The bungalow serves as the residence of the hospital’s director and is lying vacant after former director Dr D K Singh quit the job in July. The interim director, Dr Manju Gari, is yet to move in.
“All the nine police personnel did not come in direct contact with Lalu. They were posted at the police picket outside the bungalow,” an official in Rims management told TOI.
Dr Umesh Prasad, Lalu’s doctor and a professor of medicine at Rims, said: “We have not recommended any Covid-19 test for Lalu Ji yet as the police personnel were living in the police outpost outside Kelly’s Bungalow. We have urged the hospital management to replace the infected policemen.”
The former Bihar CM is under treatment at Rims since July 2018 after being sentenced jail terms in several fodder scam cases. With elections approaching in Bihar, RJD functionaries, office bearers and ticket aspirants are making a beeline outside the bungalow to get a glimpse of their 73-year-old leader.
Earlier in July, Lalu was sampled for Covid-19 test weeks after an assistant sub-inspector posted in his security tested positive after returning from Bihar after a family function. Days later, three of Lalu’s sevadars (domestic helps) were also found to be infected. Lalu tested negative on July 26.
The BJP, which has criticized the Jharkhand government for giving special treatment to Lalu in order to keep the alliance in good humour, has on several occasions claimed that the jail manual is being flouted to ensure Lalu meets visitors ahead of the Bihar polls. RJD’s state president Abhay Singh has rejected the charges. “Lalu Ji is in jail and all political decisions regarding Bihar polls are being taken in Patna by the party’s working president Tejaswi Yadav,” he said.