Tension prevailed in Indore of Madhya Pradesh following reports that a team engaged in COVID-19 survey in the district was attacked in Vinoba Nagar locality in the Palasia police station area.
The police, however, said there was no physical assault on the health team members and the accused—a known offender—had smashed the mobile phone of one of the team members, thinking that she was recording his acts or complaining to someone.
The incident occurred on Saturday morning when the health team reached Vinoba Nagar locality and started compiling the details using mobile phone. The accused, identified as Paras Bouras, who was engaged in an altercation with his neighbours suddenly approached the team and snatched the mobile of a lady teacher who was compiling the details, and smashed it on the ground, sources said. He is also said to have pushed around the team members, sources said.
Paras suspected that his neighbours had reported his illicit liquor trade to police and had been engaged in an altercation with them since Friday night. He confronted them again on Saturday morning and it was at this time that the health survey team reached there. Paras thought that the team member was recording his activities on cell phone or reporting it to some authorities and thus charged at the team, sources added.
The accused has been arrested, Indore deputy inspector general (DIG) of police Harinarayan Chari Mishra told THE WEEK.
DIG Mishra said there was no indication that anyone from the team was physically assaulted. “The accused, who has been arrested, smashed the cell phone of one of the team member on the ground. We are scanning CCTV footages of the area to find out more details. Suitable action will be initiated,” the DIG said.
Indore, a COVID-19 hotspot with 892 positive cases and 47 deaths, has earlier reported assault on health department team and police personnel at Tatpatti Bakhal and Chandan Nagar localities respectively. There was also another incident of similar nature reported from Ranipura locality earlier.