New Delhi: The deadly infection has trapped over 550 personnel in the Central Armed Police Force with the new 18 additions to it coming from the CISF. 64 cases of Covid-19 have totally been reported in the paramilitary forces.
The 18 fresh cases were registered within the last 24 hours in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). These armed men are the frontline warriors who are the most at risk for getting infected by the coronavirus as they are mostly deployed at airports which are the hotspots for the infection. The Indian Security force has come forward to help the people most affected by the corona virus-induced lockdown prevailing in the country. This has caused them to be exposed to every potential aerosol and surface, exhaled and touched by asymptomatic people.
Among the 64 CISF workers infected, 33 are in Mumbai, 22 in Delhi, five in Kolkata, and two each in Greater Noida and Ahmedabad.
Out of 33 infected CISF personnel in Mumbai, 29 were deputed at the Mumbai airport, two at Mumbai port, and one each at the government mint; one of the four mints in the country for the production of coins, as well as Hindustan Petroleum/Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).
Of those in Delhi, three were assigned at the Delhi airport and 19 at Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
In Kolkata, three CISF personnel were deployed at Kolkata Port Trust and two at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. Out of the forces in Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, one was deputed at the force’s 11 Reserve Battalion and other at its Special Security Group (SSF) Control Room in Noida.
Two fresh cases were reported in the force in Ahmedabad as the personnel were deployed at the city airport. The over 1.62 lakh strong CISF paramilitary force is mandated to provide security to major critical infrastructure in diverse areas. It provides security to nuclear installations, space establishments, airports, seaports, power plants, sensitive government buildings, and heritage monuments. Among the significant responsibilities trusted to the CISF are the DMRC, VIP security, disaster management, and establishment of a Formed Police Unit (FPU) of the UN at Haiti.
The growing number in the CISF, CAPF, and the paramilitary forces is a major alarm for the government when the novel coronavirus pandemic has gripped the souls of 2,109 people and nearly 63,000 are infected in the country.
Apart from the security personnel, a housekeeper in the Lok Sabha was tested positive for COVID-19 last month. The staff member was not working in the Parliament building but in one of the establishments of the Lok Sabha secretariat at 36 GRG Road.
