Special team nabs burglars, contracts virus from informant, one accused

Two head constables who were part of the special team first tested positive on May 31. On Friday, others in the team, including two sub-inspectors, a head constable and a Grade I constable, too, tested positive.

A petty shop on Gangai Amman Temple street was broken open on May 15 and its owner M Kathirvel (51) lodged a complaint that 20.5 sovereigns and Rs 5,000 that he had kept in the shop were burgled.

The police launched a hunt for the suspects and came to know through an informant that Kalidas (55) and Mohammed Ibrahim (57) of Washermenpet were the ones behind the burglary. A special team secured the duo on May 29. However, the joy over the success was rather short-lived after the informant and Ibrahim tested positive for COVID the next day. Following this, all the personnel part of the special team underwent test for coronavirus. The results of all of them returned positive, officials said, adding that they have been admitted to hospital while their families have been quarantined.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Commissioner of Nungambakkam police range, too, tested positive on Saturday and was admitted to Omandurar Government Hospital. He is the 15th Assistant Commissioner in the city to test positive. A woman head constable of Korukkupet station, who was discharged recently after undergoing treatment for COVID, returned to duty on Saturday.