37-year-old held for pelting stones at Covid-19 facility in Chandannagar

Police arrested a 37-year-old on Wednesday for hurling stones at a hospital, a Covid-19 facility in Chandannagar, as he was upset with the clanking of oxygen cylinders at the facility.

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The incident was reported on August 17. The arrested accused has been identified as Ganesh Dnyaneshwar Gade (37), a resident of Pandharinagar, Kharadi.

The said centre has been dedicated as a special Covid-19 treatment facility for the citizens since June by the Pune PMC’s health department. A doctor from the hospital lodged a complaint with the police.

Muralidhar Mohol, Pune mayor, said, “Covid-19 centres have been sanctioned as per the policy of the PMC and we expected citizens from all sections of the society to fully co-operate with the hospitals and at the same time it must be ensured that the citizens too are not disturbed in their respective areas.”

Ramesh Krishnamurthy Iyer, general secretary, Congress, said, “Residents must follow the law and not resort to physical violence. The hospital authorities must also remember that the loading and unloading of oxygen cylinders make noise.”

The accused has been arrested under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging duty), 341(wrongful restraint), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of Rs 50), 504 (intention insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.

Additional commissioner ( Crime ) Ashok Morale, said, “Citizens must abide by the law and ensure that they don’t violate the pandemic guidelines at any cost.”