QC inmates take to streets, again
Source: The Sangai Express

Bishnupur, June 20 2020: For the second time in the district, inmates of a quarantine facility opened at Kwakta Sericulture and Training Centre took to the street, this time decrying "unorganised COVID-19 testing protocol".

Around 130 inmates including children, who had returned from other cities recently, broke the lock of the centre's gate and thronged Tidim road demanding release of their test results without delay.

The protest disturbed vehicular movement along Tidim road for sometime.

Earlier, inmates of another quarantine centre opened at Diligent High School within Moirang Assembly Constituency had protested on the street decrying alleged negligence on the part of the Government and authorities concerned in managing the centre.

As the inmates sat on the road and continued the protest, Phougakchao Ikhai Police Station, Officer in-charge, Kh Rajen Kha Nganba along with Councillors of Kwakta Municipal Council rushed to the spot to pacify the inmates but they refused to go back to the facility until they meet the Deputy Commissioner or SDO Moirang.

According to an inmate, the centre has people who had returned from Kerala and Coimbatore on May 26, 27 and 28 .

They have been under quarantine at the centre from May 28 .

QC inmates take to streets, again

Even though swab samples were collected 13 days ago, the tests results have not arrived yet, said the inmate lamenting that the unsystematic and unorganised testing protocol have caused serious concern by putting their lives at risk.

Such COVID testing system may compromise the health of even healthy persons.

Due to delay in testing and arrival of results, there is a high chance of the virus spreading within the centre, the inmate said adding organised testing could curb possible spread of the virus.

"We have been staying here way past the normal quarantine period.

It has been 23/24 days, but we are yet to get the results of the tests," said another inmate demanding that the test results be given to them by 10 am of Monday.

Later, SDO Moirang Ch Somorendro, Kwakta PHC MO Chingakham Khelen Singh and other officials including the Bishnupur SP arrived at the protest site and managed to pacify the inmates.

After assuring early tests results, the inmates returned to the centre.

The inmates said that they would launch intense agitation, if the results are not released by 10 am of Monday.

After the inmates had gone back to the quarantine centre, a team of Moirang Fire Service disinfected the protest site and quarantine centre campus with sodium hypochlorite solution.

Meanwhile, Young Kwakta Organisation president Anish Ahamad said that the protest of the inmates has caused apprehension among the people in the area.

Considering the risk of such a protest, he appealed the inmates to follow the COVID-19 safety protocol and voice their grievances via proper channel which will not put the health of the surrounding people at risk.

Meanwhile, some inmates of the St Xavier's School quarantine centre under Moirang Municipal Council have asked authorities concerned how long they would remain in the quarantine centre.

They also urged the authority concerned to implement quarantine protocol strictly.

Even after some inmates tested positive for the virus, the fellow inmates continued to stay at the centre for nearly a month now, said the inmates who had returned from Meerut.

Alleging that they are not properly informed about their status (quarantine), the inmates appealed that they be made aware of their status and sent home for self-quarantine, if possible.