4 lock up couple under self-quarantine in flat; held

Thrissur: Four people have been arrested for allegedly locking up a couple, who were in self- quarantine following the COVID-19 scare, in their flat in an apartment complex here, police said on Monday.

The elderly couple, who had returned from Saudi Arabia on Sunday, had undergone screening at the airport and did not have any symptoms of coronavirus, they said.

"The couple found their door locked up from outside and informed the police. The residents association members took the extreme step of confining the couple to the flat and pasting a sticker related to coronavirus on their door. That is not the right way. The couple was already under self- quarantine. We have registered a case," police said.

The couple's helper bought all the groceries and kept them at the door and when the couple tried to open it, they found it locked from the outside, they said.

"The association members are supposed to help the couple. Instead, they tried to lock them up," police said, adding the arrest was made to be deterrent to other from following this act.

Police took into custody, the president, secretary and two members of the residents association.