Inmates protest lack of control measures
Source: The Sangai Express

Bishnupur, June 09 2020: People quarantined in Diligent Public School, Moirang came out to Tiddim Road and staged a protest demonstration by blocking the highway against the lack of basic safety measures and facilities inside the quarantine centre.

Altogether 103 people are staying in the quarantine centre and they have been sharing toilets but the number of toilets is quite inadequate compared to the number of inmates.

Since the quarantine centre was opened on May 24, it has been facing a problem of power connection, said the inmates.

All these days, the inmates have been enduring all the inconveniences but they became very worried as many of them were tested positive for COVID-19 during the last couple of days.

Some inmates alleged that proper sanitisation measures are not taken up at the centre, even after 38 inmates tested positive for the virus yesterday adding that no safety measures have been taken up.

All the inmates who have been tested negative earlier should be tested again for they stayed together with those who have now been tested positive but the authorities have not been giving any thought to this common concern, they said.

However one official maintained that there is a guideline which says that when one inmate of a quarantine tests positive, the others should be tested after five days.

As the inmates came out saying they would rather go home, they were prevented by volunteers guarding the quarantine centre.

This resulted in a stand-off.

Although the Moirang SDO and the OC of Moirang police station came to the quarantine centre and talked with the inmates, no understanding could be reached.

Subsequently, the inmates came out to Tiddim Road and staged a protest demonstration by blocking the highway.

Soon after Bishnupur DC Neeta Arambam, Moirang Municipal Council Chairperson M Romibala, in-charge of the quarantine centre Dr Ksh Umananda and Bishnupur SP came and talked with the inmates.

The inmates went back to the quarantine centre only after the officials assured that they would be shifted to a new quarantine centre which have proper facilities.

Notably, 34 inmates of the quarantine centre tested positive yesterday preceded by two others the day before.

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