New Delhi’s police chief, who snared former South Africa cricket skipper Hansie Cronje for match-fixing in 2001, faces being fined for allowing mosquitoes to breed at his offices, an official said on Friday.
A Delhi Municipal Corporation spokesperson said the headquarters of police Commissioner KK Paul was the subject of a sting operation by health workers fighting dengue fever in the city of 14-million, where the mosquito-borne disease claims dozens of lives every year.
He said the municipal body had mailed a notice on Thursday to Paul, warning he was liable to be fined 200 rupees for ignoring the buzzing insects in his office.
”We found large-scale mosquito breeding at the Delhi Police commissioner’s office as well as in other rooms of the police headquarters,” a municipal spokesperson said.
Paul, who charged Cronje and three other South African cricketers with match-fixing during South Africa’s tour of India in March and April 2001, said he was unaware of the winged invaders in his fortified headquarters.
”I had no idea…” he said.
Hospitals this week reported 23 dengue cases, up from 14 the previous week despite a door-to-door campaign by health officials who since January have fined 5 371 households and slapped notices on another 19 479 for not taking precautions against mosquitoes. — Sapa-AFP