Nagpur: The first assignment for constable
Deepali Masram, recruited after her mother’s death from Covid last September, was to stop commuters for Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), and send them to quarantine centres if found to be positive.
Memories of her mother, who was posted at police headquarters at the time of death, could not dent her confidence as Deepali confronted violators at Old Katol Naka Square, and ensured they undergo RAT. A commerce graduate, Deepali braved the afternoon sun to step up and check bikers and motorists, ask them the reasons for stepping out sternly, but without sounding haughty.
Though new to the job, Deepali pointed out some suspected violators to her seniors, who made them undergo the antigen test. In the presence of TOI scribe, two of those tested turned out to be positive. “It’s just two months that I have joined the police department but the nature of my job is not unfamiliar, as we used to see our mother going for duty. If I have doubts, the seniors are present to guide me,” said Deepali. She also said Covid could not lower her morale as she is ‘police’ now, whose duty is to fight the fear.
Deepali was part of the newly recruited cops drafted into the security bandobast at Old Katol Naka, where the police and Nagpur Municipal Corporation have set up a RAT camp. Those loitering on roads are questioned about the reason for moving out, to check if they are in contravention of the extended Covid restrictions, in place till May 1 to break the corona chain. Those testing positive are sent to institutional quarantine centre for 14 days.
Deepali was deployed, along with many of her colleagues, on the instructions of city police chief Amitesh Kumar, who wanted to increase the police strength at crucial junctions to ensure stricter checking.
Like Deepali, her 21-year-old colleague Mahima Thakur too sounded strong though it was her first duty as a police constable after joining the department. Another new recruit, constable Kavita Kalsarpe, who joined in place of her late husband, too said she is not feeling out of place and wants to continue the tough job to support the family.
The youngest of them, 18-year-old Harsh Raghorte, too sounded enthusiastic about his maiden assignment along with his colleague 24-year-old Ajay Shrivastav.
City police and NMC conducted 207 tests in all on Monday. Six persons were sent to the quarantine centre. Around 158 were pulled up for not wearing masks while another 606 for violating social distancing norms. Around 628 vehicles were detained.