New Delhi, Apr 9 (IANS): Delhi District Disaster Management Authority on Wednesday directed the appointment of an Assistant Commissioner of Police in every quarantine centre in all the districts to maintain law and order.

In an order, Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev in his capacity as Chairperson, State Executive Committee, said the ACPs will have to ensure that the COVID-affected persons remain in the centres.

"In every quarantine centre, established in each district, one Assistant Commissioner of Police shall be deployed in a shift (preferably in night shift) to maintain law and order and to ensure that COVID affected persons remain in quarantine centres," the order said.

On April 2, the Delhi Health and Family Welfare Department wrote to the police for deployment of adequate forces at the hospitals and quarantine centres across the city, citing patients, particularly those shifted from Nizamuddin Markaz who were "creating law and order problem".

In the letter, dated April 2, to Delhi Police Commissioner, Padmini Singla, Secretary (Health and Family Welfare), said a patient who shifted to hospital from the Markaz attempted suicide.

The patient "was timely rescued by the hospital staff. In another incident, two inmates quarantined at Narela DDA facility escaped and were later tracked down in Patparganj."

The letter also said that it is reported that patients, particularly those transferred from Markaz, are creating law and order problems and commotion in the hospital which is becoming very difficult for the hospital staff to handle.

The letter said it is very crucial to ensure that the COVID-affected persons remain in isolation for a prescribed period.

"In view of the above, I am directed to request you to deploy an adequate police force in all the hospitals and quarantine centres," she said in the order.

A patient in Delhi's Rajiv Gandhi Hospital attempted suicide but was saved by the doctors. Following the incident, the Delhi government has directed for more security at the hospitals.