64 CISF men under COVID-19 positive grip till Sunday

NEW DELHI: With fresh 18 coronavirus positive cases in the CISF, a total of 64 troopers in the paramilitary force have been reported infected with the dreaded disease that have caught over 550 personnel in all Central Armed Police Force (CAPF). The new cases were reported in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in the last 24 hours.

Of the 64 CISF personnel infected with the virus, 33 are in Mumbai, 22 in Delhi, five in Kolkata and two each in Greater Noida and Ahmedabad.

Out of 33 infected CISF personnel in Mumbai, 29 were deputed at the Mumbai airport, two at Mumbai port, and one each at the government mint — one of the four mints in the country for the production of coins — as well as Hindustan Petroleum/Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).

Among those infected in Delhi, three were deputed at the Delhi airport and 19 at Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

In Kolkata, three CISF personnel were performing duties at Kolkata Port Trust and two at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. Of the CISF personnel deputed in Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, one was deputed at the force's 11 Reserve Battalion and other at its Special Security Group (SSF) Control Room in Noida.

Two fresh cases were reported in the force in Ahmedabad as the personnel were deployed at the city airport. The over 1.62 lakh strong CISF paramilitary force is mandated to provide security to major critical infrastructure in diverse areas. It provides security to nuclear installations, space establishments, airports, seaports, power plants, sensitive government buildings and heritage monuments. Among the important responsibilities entrusted to the CISF are the DMRC, VIP security, disaster management and establishment of a Formed Police Unit (FPU) of the UN at Haiti.

The increasing number in the CISF as well as other CAPF or paramilitary forces is also a major concern for the government when the novel coronavirus pandemic has claimed over 2,109 deaths and nearly 63,000 infected persons across the country. (IANS)