On Thursday, a 46-year-old individual, who had recovered from the COVID-19 and was also discharged from the Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital (GKCMH), was later arrested by police for threatening doctors over there with a knife when he was undergoing treatment.

As per the Shevapet police officials, the patient was the resident of Mettur in Salem district and was a cab driver. He had returned from Chennai on 25th May and tested positive for COVID-19. At once, he was admitted in the isolation ward at the GMKMCH. On Tuesday, he pulled out a knife which was given to him for cutting fruits and with that he threatened the doctors, asking them to discharge him immediately.

The hospital staff quickly informed the Shevapet police and they rushed to the hospital and got the knife back after pacifying him. The police registered a case on him and was booked under Section 269 (Negligent act possibly to spread infection of disease that is dangerous to life), Section 353 (Assault or criminal force to prevent a public servant from performing his duty), and Section 506(ii) (Punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

The patient was discharged from the hospital after recovering completely on Thursday morning. The Shevapet police then arrested him soon after the discharge for threatening the doctors and kept him in custody at the Sankagiri sub-jail.

Source: The New Indian Express