A young IPS officer is winning hearts in Assam by treating people during the coronavirus pandemic, thanks to his medical background.

Barpeta superintendent of police (SP) Robin Kumar is performing the dual duties of a corona warrior — a police officer and a doctor — as the district is witnessing a spike in Covid-19 cases.

Kumar, a 2013 batch IPS officer, is a specialist in medicine (MBBS, MD) which has helped him respond to the call of duty and provide treatment to the needy during the ongoing medical emergency.

Besides heading the district’s police department, Kumar is at present running a 50-bedded Covid care centre with four ICUs in Barpeta Police Reserve for police personnel and their families and is also planning to hold health camps for women and elderly people.

“I am fortunate to dedicate myself in both the roles of district police chief and a doctor. It gives me immense satisfaction,” Kumar told PTI over phone.

The SP has also held a health camp for those police personnel who are 50 years or above in Barpeta.

After joining Assam Police, Kumar, a native of Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, first organised a health check-up camp at Tezpur during his previous posting in Sonitpur district a few years ago.

“When the pandemic struck, I took permission of Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta to open a Covid care centre for the police personnel in Barpeta. Now, we are running the centre smoothly,” he said.

The Covid care centre has four ICUs, 32 general beds and 14 after care beds.

Kumar’s service earned laurels from different quarters. Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal described the SP’s act as “great gesture of service to humanity”.