Jammu
The number of coronavirus affected personnel in a New Delhi-based battalion of the Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has risen to 122.
Reports said the men belong to the 31st battalion of the paramilitary, based in Mayur Vihar Phase-III area of the Indian capital that has been entirely sealed after the huge numbers of the COVID-19 infection started building up over the last few days.
“A total of 122 troops of this battalion have tested positive for the virus. Results for over 100 more are awaited,” Press Trust of India quoted a senior official as having said.
The personnel are admitted to an isolation facility of the Delhi government at Mandoli.
Twelve troops had tested positive on Friday while a 55-year-old Sub-Inspector of this unit had succumbed to the disease early this week.
These huge numbers in a single battalion (of over 1,000 troopers) has rung alarm bells in the establishment.
Vice Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Pir Panjal Freedom Movement, Qazi Mohammad Imran, has paid glowing tributes to Shaheed Mohammad Arafat alias Qazi Khalid on his martyrdom anniversary.
Indian troops martyred Qazi Khalid along with his eight companions on May 2 in 2002.
Qazi Mohammad Imran in a statement issued in Islamabad said that Shaheed Qazi Khalid was a bold and courageous mujahid. He added that Qazi Khalid had joined the liberation movement when he was only 14 years old and fought against the Indian army for four years. He pointed out that on several occasions, the Indian Army offered Qazi Khalid to surrender but he refused.
Shaheed Qazi Khalid was the younger brother of liberation leader, Qazi Muhammad Irshad.
Qazi Imran deplored that the entire world was fighting coronavirus but India was shedding blood of oppressed people in occupied Kashmir.
He appealed to the United Nations to take notice of the Indian state terrorism in the occupied territory.—KMS
