A doctor with a travel history went through a traumatic experience in the capital city here as she was repeatedly harassed over quarantine.
Ayurvedic doctor Dr Rakhi Singh had recently returned to Odisha from Hyderabad. Neither was she allowed to stay in Government quarantine nor was she able to go back to Telanagna.
According to a complaint lodged by her husband Sudhir Kumar, Dr Singh had reached Bhubaneswar along with her children on May 3 night after getting permission from the Government. She had followed all the procedures set by the State Government for returnees. She went to Gandarpur area on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar under Nandankanan police limits where her husband was residing at a rented house. As she was instructed to stay in home quarantine, as per the norms, she had informed about her arrival to the concerned nodal officer and police official.
However, the villagers opposed her entry into the area. When the officials sought assistance from the sarpanch, who is vested with Collector power for COVID-19 crisis, he did not allow the Ayush doctor for home quarantine in the village citing ‘no official communication’ has been made in this regard.
Being disappointed over the incident, the couple had approached the Nandankanan police that also failed to assist them following which the doctor and her family had to spend entire night inside a car.
Next morning, the police suggested them to stay in quarantine at a school in Gandarpur. However, after seeing the family, the villagers started pelting stone at them and threatened them to set them on fire. The frightened family rushed to the DCP office for help. During verification of their documents, police found her Aadhaar card had the address of Niladri Vihar and the registration had been made accordingly with the Government. She was asked to visit Chandrasekharpur Police Station for necessary help.
The doctor also faced disappointment from Chandrasekharpur police. With no option left, the family urged the Government to return to Hyderabad during lockdown. But, their plea was also turned down. Again, they reached the Nandankanan police station where the police suggested them for quarantine at a hotel at expenses of Rs 1,800 per day.