Four policemen, including a sub-inspector, were injured at Delampady in Kerala’s Kasargod district when they were attacked by a group of locals for trying to help a Health Department team enter a colony.

Kerala Kaumidi, a Kerala daily, reported that the staff tried to enter the Kalladukku colony for an awareness campaign on Coronavirus (Covid-19) when the locals confronted them.

A team of police rushed to help and rescue the Health Department staff on the district collector’s order but it also came under attack.

All the injured have been admitted to a local hospital, while two persons have been detained in connection with this incident.

The incident assumes significance in the wake of Kasaragod district officials trying their best to stem the spread of Covid-19. AmeerB, a Kasargod native who returned from Gulf earlier this month and tested positive for Covid-19, had gone on a visiting and travel spree despite being asked quarantine himself.

District authorities say that at least 3,000 persons are at risk in view of the various visits of AmeerB, allegedly a gold smuggler. The visits include attending two weddings, a child-naming ceremony, a funeral and watching a football match.

With 48 persons testing positive for Covid-19 in Kasaragod district, it accounts for over one-third of the total 137 Coronavirus cases in Kerala. Its neighbouring district Kannur accounts for 22 Coronavirus cases, second-highest in the State.

Totally, northern Kerala districts - Kasargod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Malappura - account for 87 of the total Covid-19 cases in the State. Currently, Kerala tops the nation in 753 Coronavirus cases reported across all the States.