Covid infected Odisha minister and MLA attend party leader’s funeral, stir controversy

BHUBANESWAR: Puri police on Monday started an inquiry following allegation by a social outfit that minister Samir Dash and BJD MLA Umakanta Samantaray, who were recently infected by Covid-19 virus, took part in funeral rite of their party MLA Pradeep Maharathy at Puri on Sunday.
The RT-PCR reports of Dash and Samantaray had come out positive on September 27 and 28, respectively ahead of the commencement of the assembly session on September 29. Both the legislators were denied entry to the assembly. Jagannath Sena, the outfit, which lodged a complaint against them at Sea Beach police station in Puri, alleged that the two BJD leaders attended Maharathy’s funeral at Swargadwar flouting the government’s Covid-19 guidelines and home isolation norms.

BJD MLA BJD MLA Umakanta Samantaray lays wreath on Pradeep Maharathy’s body at Swargadwar in Puri
“We have received the complaint and made a station diary entry at the Sea Beach police station. Puri sub-collector (incident commander) has been asked to submit a report. FIR would be registered against the violators once we receive the inquiry report,” Puri superintendent of police Akhileshvar Singh told TOI.
Dash denied he flouted any Covid guideline. “I was infected on September 14 and admitted to a Covid hospital in Cuttack. I was discharged following recovery on September 21. I stayed in my home. Maharathy’s funeral was on October 4, at least 21 days after I was infected,” Dash said. He avoided questions when asked about his Covid positive report that was revealed by the assembly authorities on September 27. Despite attempts, Samantaray could not be contacted for comment.
Notably, a Covid-infected asymptomatic patient should complete home isolation for at least 17 days. Besides, the government’s Covid unlock guidelines for October stated that only 20 persons should be allowed to take part in a funeral rite. “We deeply mourn Pradeep Maharathy’s demise. But we were shocked to see blatant violation of the Covid guidelines at Swargadwar crematorium. Hundreds of people, including the minister and MLA gathered at Swargadwar. The minister and MLA may play roles of Covid super spreaders,” Jagannath Sena’s chief Priyadarshan Pattnaik said.
Pattnaik questioned the delay in registration of cases against the violators. “The collector and SP among other officers were present at Swargadwar when Maharathy was cremated with full state honour. Several TV channels shot the video of the large congregation and presence of the minister and the MLA. Instead of taking suo-moto action, the police sought a report from the sub-collector. Law should be equal for all,” Pattnaik said.
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