Sub Inspector Arunachalam was greeted with a bouquet by the Commissioner of Police, AK Viswanathan
A Chennai policeman received a hero's welcome as he reported to work on Monday after recovering from the highly contagious COVID-19 disease. Sub-Inspector Arunachalam was greeted with a bouquet by city police chief AK Viswanathan as a police band played music to welcome him.
"My colleagues and senior officers looked after my family well. They were constantly in touch with me and that helped me to recover well," the 52-year-old cop, overwhelmed with the gesture, said.
Expressing joy over Mr Arunachalam's return, Chennai Police Commissioner AS Viswanathan said, "We are happy about his return. We are looking forward to the return of all those under treatment for COVID-19, so they could serve the people soon".
Visits by the public have been restricted to the area outside the police station in the wake of the spread of the pandemic.
"Keeping with the guidelines, we have made arrangements in terms of furniture outside the station's entrance," said an officer.
320 police personnel have been tested positive for coronavirus across Tamil Nadu, one of the worst-hit states; 276 of them are in Chennai alone. Most of them are involved in efforts to contain coronavirus.
A senior officer of the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police had contracted the virus when he was on duty at Chennai's Koyambedu Vegetable Market which has now emerged as a super spreader; at least 2,600 people have been infected.