Mangaluru: “If anybody files a false case and attacks our medical fraternity, stringent action will be taken against them,” said Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Kota Srinivas Poojary on Monday, April 14.

He was speaking to reporters after inspecting the Talapady check post along with MP and BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel.

Commenting on the district administration’s decision to allow patients from Kerala to receive treatment in Mangaluru, Minister Poojary clarified that district will allow entry only for non-COVID-19 medical emergencies. “A team of doctors from Karnataka will verify the cases at the Talapady check post to confirm whether the patients requires emergency medical treatment and is not suffering from COVID-19. If anyone falsely accuses our doctors and medical fraternity, stringent action will be taken against them,” he said.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel informed that all 21 routes leading to Kerala are being surveilled by CCTV cameras and police personnel. “As the district administration has taken proper precautionary measures, there have not been any new COVID-19 cases in the past few days. The alert police, coast guard and health department have been handling the situation with much care and responsibility,” he said.

It can be noted that two patients from Kerala state arrived at the K S Hegde Hospital in Deralakate. Of the two patients, one was rerouted to Kannur as he had a brain-related ailment and the other allegedly left the hospital without informing the management. Later, however, the latter alleged that they were denied treatment at the hospital.

A case has been registered at the Ullal police station in this regard.