Thane (Maharashtra): A video showing women and children packing swab sticks used in COVID-19 tests has gone viral. In the video, the packers -- without masks or sanitizers -- are seen picking thousands of swab sticks from the floor and pack them in batches.
The video was recorded when a group of women and children were packing the sticks at a house in Khemani area of Ulhasnagar Camp 2.
A woman involved in packing these swab sticks said they were all hired by a contractor. She said she earns Rs 20 on packing 1,000 sticks. It is alleged that the accused contractor had been exploiting these workers taking advantage of their weak financial condition.
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Based on Food and Drug Administration officer Vilas Taskhedkar's complaint, police registered a case against Manish Keshwani, who is said to be the contractor. Police said he had been illegally using names of international brands on testing kits. Though he went missing after the video went viral, the police succeeded in nabbing him within 24 hours. They raided his factory in Sant Dnyaneshwar Nagar in Ulhasnagar. The local court awarded him 14 days' police custody. The police suspect that a bigger racket is involved.
"We appeal to all those institutions who have procured these kits to exercise caution. It was being produced at a local level in Thane. There might be a bigger racket we are unaware of," said Dr Raja Rijwani, Chief Health Officer, Thane.
