All Women Police Stations in Salem were shut temporarily on Friday for extensive disinfection over the spread of coronavirus fears after a sexual abuse suspect tested positive for the infection. Two policewomen and 22 police personnel were isolated after the sexual abuse accused tested positive during judicial remand.

The police in their statement have said that one Lokanathan of Salem Thathagapatti, who was running a beauty parlour in his house along with his two friends, Pradeep and Shiva, was allegedly threatening widows and unmarried women after capturing their compromising pictures. The police said the individuals indulged in using the pictures to force the women into flesh trade. An investigation was launched after a few affected women filed a complaint and the three were later arrested. Upon their arrest, all three accused were tested if they were infected by the novel coronavirus before they were remanded in Salem jail.

Among the three, Lokanathan had tested positive for the COVID-19 infection, leading to the two policewomen who arrested him to be sent for isolation. Furthermore, more than 20 police personnel have also been sent for isolation in the nearby Annadanapatti police station. Lokanathan, on the other hand, is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital. As of now, all the policewomen and personnels are stationed to work at nearby general police stations after all the All Women Police stations in the town were ordered for a temporary shut down.