Sushma Gowda (Correspondent)
The Northeast Division police of Amruthahalli police on Thursday arrested the owner of an ambulance service and a driver for demanding Rs 60,000 from the family of a covid patient .
The accused has been identified as,Hanumanthappa Singri,30,and Harish.
Senior officer told reporters,a complaint was registered by kin of victim who stated in her complaint that her Father a Covid Prasad was admitted to a private hospital in Mathikere and succumbed on Tuesday.
So to Ferry the body from Peenya to Hebbal the family contacted the ambulance to take the body in cold storage and to carry the body the next day for cremation.
The owner of Nandana Ambulance International situated near Hebbal flyover agreed for the service but demanded Rs 60,000 to be paid immediately.
Bhavya,26,daughter of the deceased who was struggling to arrange the fund,asked them to reduce the amount but the driver who had already taken the body threatened that he would dump the body on the road if money is not paid.
The patients daughter even decided to pawn her Mangalasutra or Thali to get the money and later approached the media seeking help.
With the media intervention Harish Ashwanthnarayana agreed to take Rs.16,000.
When the news spread on social media following which the Amruthahalli police inspector and team visited the firm and conducted an inquiry.
During questioning it was found that they harrased and threatened the Covid-19 kin to dump the body on road and demanded Rs.60,000.
After conducting a detailed investigation the Amruthahalli police inspector arrested the driver Hanumanthappa Singri,30 and Harish Owner of the ambulance and charged them under section 54(Punishment for false warning),of the National Disaster Management Act -2005 and also under section 384(extortion) and also under section,269,(negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life)and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease)of the IPC in Amruthahalli police station and further investigation is on he added.
