In a bid to counter ill-practises shrouding the scarce supply of COVID resources, the Additional Director-General of Law and Order, has issued directives for the benefit of the pandemic-stricken in Lucknow and other UP districts. Reportedly, the Police Commissioner of Lucknow has waged a war to ensure that all oxygen cylinders and Remdesivir injections recovered from the black market are made available for public use. Operating procedures will be also drafted for the same to ensure secure transfer of supplies from the police to the people and hospitals.

Facilitating COVID supplies to the needy

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The ADG of Law and Order late on Tuesday night, issued a letter citing a High Court order in reference to a PIL. This notification stated that Remedesivir injections and other medical supplies should be made available for the treatment of COVID patients, to hospitals and even the general public. Under the ambit of this order, the Police Commissioner of Lucknow directed the JCP of the crime branch to undertake the required steps.

A special committee will be constituted, that will be dedicated to ensuring that the recovered COVID aid - oxygen cylinder, Remdesivir injections and other medicines, are reaching the hospitals and beneficiaries, without further delay. The SOPs, in this regard, will be drafted for the same by the Joint Commissioner of Police, as per the orders of the High Court PIL.

Amid the widespread black marketing of oxygen cylinders and injections across the state along with the pandemic crisis, the pressure on police officials has escalated sharply. But anyhow, law enforcement officers were expected to keep these malpractices in check and provide supplies to the needy. As a consequence, the matter was referred to the higher authorities.