COVID-19: Gujarat Coaching Centre Raided; 555 students Found, Owner Held

A coaching centre owner in Jasdan town of Gujarat's Rajkot district was arrested for allegedly flouting COVID-19 norms after police found more than 550 students in his premises during a raid, police said on Monday.

A coaching centre owner in Jasdan town of Gujarat's Rajkot district was arrested for allegedly flouting COVID-19 norms after police found more than 550 students in his premises during a raid, police said on Monday. The raid on the centre, located some 215 kilometres from here, took place on Sunday and its owner, identified as 39-year-old Jaysukh Sankhalva, was arrested on Monday, said Rajkot Superintendent of Police Balram Meena. "He was arrested under IPC and Epidemic Diseases Act provisions for disobeying police notification on COVID-19 norms as well as for negligent act which may spread infection. The children have been handed over to their parents," he said. According to police, Sankhalva runs a coaching centre-cum-hostel to provide training to students appearing for Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya and Balachadi Sainik School entrance exams. "Based on a tip off, we raided the premises and found 555 students between the age of 9-10 taking tuition. These children were not wearing masks nor was social distancing being maintained. The centre was functioning despite the state government's ban on classroom teaching due to the COVID-19 outbreak," Jasdan police station sub-inspector JH Sisodiya said.