COVID-19 Pandemic: Untiring Cops Earn Special Place in the Hearts of Ganjam People

Berhampur: Even as the Coronavirus pandemic is triggering myriad fears in Odisha’s Ganjam district for the last couple of weeks with unprecedented rise in positive cases, but it has, however failed to undermine the indomitable spirit of the frontline warriors – the district police personnel, who despite most vulnerable to the dangerous virus, have been working tirelessly in the toughest conditions, and of course with an aim to safeguard the people at this crisis situation.

Even as COVID-19 positive cases did not spare the police department, but being fighters, the cops are not scared, and are giving a strong fight back with renewed zeal and strong determination. They are standing as a major pillar in the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik-led Odisha Government’s fight against the coronavirus with varied responsibilities beyond the call of duty.

From guarding the district 24×7 to strictly enforcing lockdown in scorching heat, to extending helping hands to the stranded people and senior citizens to creating COVID awareness among the people, to donating blood and distributing masks, the police personnel have shown their mettle by rending their untiring and selfless services.

As the State Government has introduced convalescent plasma therapy for the treatment of critical COVID-19 patients in the district, the police personnel are the first ones who have come forward to donate their plasma to support the new healthcare initiative.

As many as 36 police stations are under the two police districts – Ganjam Police District and Berhampur Police District – in Ganjam Administrative district.

So far 249 policemen of both the police districts have already contracted the virus in the line of duty. However, it could not stop them in their fight against the pandemic.

Talking to the Newsroom.co.in, Ganjam SP Brijesh Kumar Rai said that 145 police personnel, who were infected by COVID-19, have joined the duty soon after they recovered from it and another 19 cops are under treatment. Unfortunately, one policeman has lost his life due to the virus.

All the recovered police personnel have volunteered to donate plasma for the treatment of series COVID-19 patients. So far 40 cops are eligible to give plasma, he said.

One such example of exceptional dedication towards duty has come from Aska police station where cops continue to carry out enforcement activities like maintaining social distancing at the market places under the leadership of IIC Prashant Kumar Sahoo even though maximum staffs of the PS are being infected by the virus.

“In Berhampur police district, as many as 84 policemen tested positive for the virus. Of them 64 have successfully fought the battle against the COVID-19 and joined the duty. Twelve of them have agreed to donate plasma”, explained Berhampur SP Pinak Mishra.

Many policemen have not visited their families ever since the first lockdown was imposed in the district in March to support the battle against the pandemic, says Additional SP Berhampur Prabhat Routroy, while appealing to the people to strictly follow the guidelines to contain the spread of the virus.

Since the inception of the war against the Coronavirus, there are several instances of police personnel serving the needy with food, helping stranded migrant workers reach their homes safely and taking elders to hospitals. These humane gestures have further strengthened the trust between the police and the public in Ganjam district.