Don't spread COVID-19 rumour: Body
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 10 2020:
Amid reports of many falling victims to humiliations based on rumours of being infected with coronavirus, a 15-year-old girl caught in a commotion between her family and some members of the locality was hurt recently, said a statement of Organisation for Indian Women Against Crimes.
The incident happened at around 8 pm of April 5 at Langathel Mayai Leikai.
The commotion broke out following rumours that son of Sagolshem Ashalata Devi (40) and Manaobi was infected with coronavirus.
Their 15-year-old daughter studying in Class XI was hurt during the commotion, said the women's organisation.
The girl's brother is a truck driver who ferries petroleum products from Assam to Manipur.
He was not home at the time of the incident, as he was staying at the house of the tanker's owner.
He was experiencing tooth ache at the time, but the news turned into a rumour that he was suffering from COVID-19 and spread in his locality.
The locals and neighbours acted differently towards the family and they were subjected to humiliation daily.
Thus the commotion broke out in which the girl was hurt, said the organisation adding no one was even willing to take the injured girl to hospital.
As the locality turned down their plea to take the girl to hospital, the parents had to hire vehicles from another locality.
She was rushed to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal.
She is now in shock and is receiving treatment for depression, said the organisation.
Giving light of the humiliations that the family had endured, the organisation said that the people in the locality called them coronavirus behind their back.
When people crossed their gate, they run closing their nose and mouth.
Such humiliation and ill treatment has made the family suffer gravely with the minor girl falling in depression, said the organisation appealing all not to act on rumours and show compassion and love to actual victims of the virus.
Those who are victims of the coronavirus should not be ill treated, and instead should be given care and support they need for speedy recovery, said the organisations.
Meanwhile, Manipur Petroleum Product Transporter Association, general secretary Ahongsambam Tamphayai has said that on Thursday at around 7.30 pm, empty trucks with CRPF escorts that went to ferry petroleum products from Assam were pelted with stones at two places - between Keithalmanbi and Kangpokpi and between T Khullen and Mayangkhang.
Windshields and parts of few trucks were broken.
All trucks remained between T Khullen and Mayangkhang area and security forces which arrived later searched the area with assistance of the villages' chiefs.
After long hours of search, the trucks returned to Imphal at around 2 am with the CRPF escort, he said.
The association has had a meeting with CAF&PD Commissioner and Director, IOCL Deputy General Manager and other officials.
The truckers will continue their normal duty of ferrying petroleum products with CRPF escorts.
The empty trucks will leave Imphal tomorrow at 1 pm, he said.
Meanwhile, one of the drivers from Nongpok Sekmai has been forced by locality not to step outside his home, he said.
Stating all drivers are properly screened at the Sekmai Gas Plant and Malem Depot by doctors, he urged people and all concerned to respect and show support to the truckers who are delivering the essential items by risking their lives amidst coronavirus.
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