Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 2
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and sometimes, thoughtless actions that endanger public health. In this case, it was a thief, who intruded into a COVID containment facility in Dimapur, stealing mobile phones and calmly walking away.
The theft, captured on CCTV camera, happened at the COVID-19 Hospital in Dimapur around 3:30 am, June 2.
The footage shows a masked individual creeping into a COVID ward at the hospital, where patients as well as attendants were asleep and scurrying off with mobile phones, which likely belonged to the patients and their attendants.
As per sources at the COVID Hospital, it was the third such theft this year.
“This is not the first instance. It had happened last year also. This year also, it is the third time,” disclosed a hospital official.
Queried on how unauthorised personnel could enter the COVID Hospital, which is off-limits to the public, the official said that the hospital has no security personnel guarding it is perimeters or gateways.
“Police guards were stationed last year. However they have not provided any this year,” the official said, while hinting that the police are, in all likelihood, apprehensive of stationing its personnel at the hospital.
“Earlier also we have filed FIR. I think the cops are apprehensive since the complaint is related to the COVID ward. I guess they have their own reasons,” he said suggesting at an all too evident fear of the virus, irrespective of profession or uniform.
Nevertheless, the official informed that the COVID Hospital authority will be filing an FIR.
The Dimapur Police later confirmed receiving the complaint.
A senior police official admitted to withdrawing police guards from the COVID hospital citing the health and safety of its personnel. “There are practical difficulties involved,” the official said.
While concern over the safety of a seemingly secure health facility is one, there is also apprehension of the thief contracting and spreading the virus.
