Odisha Police watch on middlemen targeting Covid patients, kin

BHUBANESWAR: Amid the growing demand for hospital beds and oxygen as Covid-19 cases continue to rise alarmingly, the Odisha Police on Friday directed police stations to prevent the needy from falling prey to middlemen in such trying times.
The police have come across a few instances where the relatives of critical Covid patients have had to pay exorbitant charges to middlemen to avail themselves of ambulances and hospital beds with oxygen facilities. The commissionerate police has been specifically asked to remain more vigilant in Bhubaneswar, which has seen a sharp rise in the demand for hospital beds, oxygen and ventilators.
“We have asked the deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) and superintendents of police (SPs) to direct their field-level officers to gather intelligence about middlemen and take strong action against them. The police stations should also prevent a possible nexus between middlemen and some hospitals. Minting money by cheating people in this hour of crisis should be dealt with strongly,” a senior police officer said.
The police suspect middlemen and fraudsters may become active following a barrage of SOS on social media from people in need of medical help for their near and dear ones. Such is the desperation that some have even posted that money would not be a constraint in getting hospital beds, thereby making themselves vulnerable to fraudsters.
The police have also cautioned people against cyber criminals, who may dupe people on the pretext of helping them get vaccinated. “Fake posts and apps have been doing the rounds on social media, asking people to click on the links to register themselves for vaccination. We request people to stay away from such malicious posts and mails,” a police official said.