Punjab police officer's hand chopped off in lockdown attack; Centre puts focus on plans to ease some restrictions

A police officer's hand was chopped off with a sword in a brutal attack on Sunday by a group of Nihang Sikhs in Punjab on a team enforcing the 21-day coronavirus lockdown even as the Centre focused on plans to ease some restrictions during the likely extension of the unprecedented measure beyond April 14.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases inched closer to 9,000 with a total of 918 infections reported in the last 24 hours, On Sunday, there was a record increase of over 1,000 cases.

Amid demands for ramping up health surveillance, the Centre said it is expanding the COVID-19 testing capacity in state-run as well as private medical colleges.

The Punjab attack shortly after dawn in which three other men of the state police and a civilian were also injured happened when the Nihangs were asked to show curfew passes at a vegetable market in Sanaur town in Patiala district, police said.

Eleven persons including five attackers were arrested hours later after an exchange of fire at Nihang Dera complex which also houses Gurdwara Khichdi Sahib at Balbera village, about 25 km from Patiala city, after the group fled from the scene of crime, police said.The incident happened around 6.15 am.

A video clip on social media appears to show Assistant Sub Inspector(ASI) Harjeet Singh seeking help after his left hand was severed in the attack. A man picks up the portion of the hand that was ripped off and gives it to the officer who keeps it with him. He is then taken away from the scene on a two-wheeler.

The ASI was rushed to a nearby local hospital and then referred to PGIMER in Chandigarh where he was undergoing surgery, police said.

With a lockdown in place to contain the spread of COVID-19, barricades were put up outside the wholesale market and entry restricted to those with curfew passes.

The Nihangs -- members of a Sikh sect whose adherents carry traditional arms and wear blue robes -- arrived in an SUV and were told to stop by mandi' officials, police said
"In the last five days, on an average, 15,747 samples were tested per day and 584 of those were found to be positive per day," an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) official said at the press briefing
Union minister Nitin Gadkari said talks are underway with state governments to re-start highway construction projects where migrant labourers can be gainfully employed,