A health inspector, who went to screen a family for Coronavirus (Covid-19) after its head tested positive for the pandemic virus, was attacked on 3 April by a group of people near Kayathar in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district.

Tamil daily Dinakaran reported that the head of the family from Ayyanaruthu near Kayathar had returned recently from Delhi after attending the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi’s West Nizamuddin.

He was screened at the Tirunelveli Government Hospital and subsequently admitted in the ward for treating Covid-19 patients.

Following this, a team of the State Health Department went to his house to test samples of his son and two daughters.

However, it could not take samples of one-and-a-half year old grandchild due to lack of facilities at the residence. As the team tried to take the child to the Tirunelveli Government hospital to test samples there, it was attacked by a group of persons there.

In particular, Vellankottai primary health care centre Kaliraj was attacked badly and his shirt torn. Besides, his mobile phone was reportedly taken away. The health team somehow rescued Kaliraj, who then lodged a complaint with Kayathar police station.

The police are investigating the incident.

In Tamil Nadu, 485 persons have tested positive for Coronavirus that has claimed five lives so far. Of the 485 affected, 422 had got infected after attending the Alami Markaz Nizamuddin congregation that was held last month.

At least 1,500 persons in Tamil Nadu are reported to have attended the congregation.