The CRPF has directed all its formations across the country to offer a befitting funeral to the Covid warriors in its ranks who died in the line of duty while fighting coronavirus infection.
The directive comes as the last rites of some deceased personnel were not done properly or as per protocol of the Force. The paramilitary expressed concern over it.
“While making a random check of funeral process being observed in the case of Covid warriors, it was noticed that in some cases, the last rites of the deceased have not been done properly and the appropriate respect as per protocol of the Force has not been offered to them, which is a cause of concern,” reads an internal document.
It further said, “The competent authority has desired that a befitting funeral be arranged for all Covid warriors who lose their lives in the line of duty while fighting Covid.”
Local circumstances, State protocol and norms of Covid appropriate behaviour may be followed for disposing off the mortal remains of the deceased, says the letter sent to all the formations.
The CRPF left it to the discretion of the Head of Offices (HOOs) as to how the funeral will be organized broadly keeping the concerns in mind.
However, it must be ensured that in no case, families of the deceased be left unattended. The families of the Covid victims should be facilitated in all cases and not left to fend for themselves.
All the establishments under their respective operational jurisdictions have instructed for strict compliance of funeral protocols.
As on Friday, as many as 23,588 CRPF personnel contracted the viral disease of which 21,649 patients recovered from the disease and 121 personnel lost their lives. A total of 1,818 patients continue to suffer from the coronavirus infection.
From May 17 to May 28, the CRPF recorded a surge in the tally of infected personnel from 22,216 to 23,588 and the spike in the death toll from 114 to 121 during the period in which the number of active cases has recorded a downward spiral from 2,867 to just 1,818, a decline of over 1,000 cases in the 12-day period.