Politician in Chhattisgarh asks nurse to vacate house over Covid-19, booked

The landlord has rejected the allegation and has accused the nurse of framing him.

Published on: Mar 29, 2020, 08:34:01 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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Chhattisgarh police registered a case against a Congress corporator in Bilaspur district on Saturday for allegedly asking his tenant, a nurse to vacate the house fearing she could be a carrier of coronavirus.

medical professionals in many parts of the country have complained of harassment by landlords who are scared that those caring for coronavirus patients may transmit the disease. (PTI)

However, the landlord has denied the allegations against him and claimed that the nurse voluntarily vacated the house and was framing him.

“We have registered an FIR against one Sitaram Jaiswal with the Civil Lines Police station on Saturday evening, based on the complaint of the doctor who is the owner of a private hospital where the nurse works,” said Inspector General of Ppolice , Bilaspur range , Dipanshu Kabra talking to HT.

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The IGP said that according to the complainant the landlord asked the nurse to vacate his house fearing that she could transmit coronavirus.

“Jaiswal was booked under sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) of the IPC and the provision of the Epidemic Disease Act 1897,” Kabra said.

But Jaiswal refuted the charges. He told reporters that the nurse had returned from her village on Thursday and told him that she wanted to quit her job and vacate the house.

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“I did not force her to vacate the house, she is falsely implicating me,” said Jaiswal.

Police have started investigation but no arrest was made till Saturday night.

There have been reports of harassment against medical staff involved in Covid-19 care in other parts of the country also.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned people against misbehaving with doctors and nurses who are caring for Covid-19 patients.

In a television address to his constituency of Varanasi he said he had told the Union home ministry and police chief of all states to take strict action against “those who are not supporting or are not cooperating with doctors, nurses and other professionals who are serving us in this critical time.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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