Kollam, Mar 27: A young IAS officer in Kerala has been booked by police after he left the state violating instructions to remain under home quarantine following his recent return from honeymoon abroad, officials said on Friday.
A First Information Report has been registered against Kollam sub-collector Anupam Mishra, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, based on a report from the Health department about the violation, Kollam Superintendent of Police T Narayanan said.
Describing the action of the officer as a “serious matter”, District Collector B. Abdul Nasser said Mishra had returned to Kerala on March 19 from his Malaysia-Singapore trip and was advised to remain under quarantine, as per the protocol for overseas returnees in the backdrop of coronavirus outbreak.
On his return to Kerala from the foreign trip, Mishra had undergone medical examination and did not show symptoms. His personal staff, including gunman, have also been kept under observation.
However, the officer had left for his brother’s place in Bengaluru without informing anyone, Nasser said.
When the Collector got in touch with him, Mishra informed him that he was in Bengaluru.
“He was on leave after his marriage and took permission to travel to Malaysia and Singapore. On his return I advised him to remain under home quarantine. Seems like he left to be with his family at Bengaluru,” Nasser told PTI.
However, police said Mishra’s mobile tower location shows Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Authorities came to know on Thursday that Mishra, who had been staying alone in his quarters at Kollam, was not there after health department staff, who regularly visit people in quarantine, found the lights in his house switched off, police sources said.
“The officer has gone without prior permission or leave. He did not have any symptoms of the virus. Without informing us, he left. It is a serious matter, the collector said adding Mishra has been asked to provide his current address and travel details to Bengaluru.”
When an officer leaves his jurisdiction, he is supposed to inform the government, which Mishra did not do. He has also not taken prior permission for leaving the state, the later told reporters.
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The state government has sought an explanation from the officer in this regard.
A case has been registered against him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code including 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (Negligent Act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 271 (disobedience to quarantine rule), police said.
Kollam, is the only district in the state, which has not reported any positive case of COVID-19 so far. A total of 176 positive cases have been reported in the state so far.
Most constables have submitted undertakings to rsepctive superintendents of police and deputy commissioners of police promising that they would abide by the department's orders and not participate in the protest,” Director General and Inspector General of Police Om Prakash told reporters on Thursday.“Senior officers, IGPs and SPs are monitoring the situation and all constables would be on duty on June 4. Stern action would be taken against those who violate the order and participate in the protest called by Akhila Karnataka Police Mahasangha (AKPMS),” he said.
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this police department is looting our tax paying money and getting all the benefits from the govt and still they want to eat more, why did they come to the department? for money?
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