The state government on Monday decided to deploy CRPF to enforce the lockdown in the capital, which has the maximum umber of novel coronavirus cases in Jharkhand, in a stricter way.

Director-general of police (DGP) M.V. Rao has ordered the deployment.

“From today we are going to deploy CRPF to strictly implement the lockdown because of the way coronavirus has spread in the city,” DGP Rao told a news channel on Monday.

Another top-ranking police officer, who spoke under cover of anonymity, told The Telegraph that ensuring a tighter lockdown and adherence to social distancing norms is crucial at this juncture.

“There are complaints about people sneaking out of hotspot zones and even emergency passes are misused to illegally transport people out of hotspots. Hence, the state police have decided to deploy the CRPF to assist district police,” the official said.

Ranchi senior superintendent of police (SSP) Anish Gupta said two companies of the CRPF would be deployed in the city. “We will take a decision on localities where CRPF will be deployed and kind of assistance required from them. Deployment will be made very soon,” said Gupta.

One company comprises 70 to 80 personnel. What worries the state government is that other than Hindpiri, a designated Covid-19 zone where most of the cases are from, there are 10 other localities of Ranchi where positive cases have been found. They are Main Road, Netaji Nagar, Lowadih, Chutia, Bariatu, Piska Mor, Imli Chowk, Harmu and Bero.

Ranchi district administration sources said that around two weeks back they had requested the state government to sanction deployment of two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and CRPF to ensure proper lockdown and to maintain law and order.

The Intelligence Bureau too had sent inputs to the Centre that the CRPF may be deployed to assist district police.

RIMS full

The Ranchi district administration on Monday decided to admit new Covid-19 patients at CCL Gandhinagar Central Hospital after RIMS expressed inability to admit new cases.

The Covid-19 ward at RIMS has 100 beds for positive cases and the patients under observation.

“We are facing a lack of health staff. We also have ICU beds for patients. While treating patients we have to ensure that others are not infected,” said RIMS director Dr D.K. Singh.