Siliguri cops get stricter on lockdown violators...322 arrested

SANKHA GHOSH, SNS, Siliguri, 18 April 2020: A day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked the Siliguri Metropolitan Police to enforce proper lockdown in the town. Siliguri police commissioner Tripurari Atharv today hit the streets to review the situation. Mr Atharv visited a market at Tikia Para and later, he along with Darjeeling district magistrate S Ponnambalam, visited the Desun Hospital, North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) and the Covid-19 hospital (Dr Chang's Hospital) at Madgara.

According to Mr Atharv, they were trying to ensure proper lockdown so that large gatherings of people could be avoided before the weekly Sunday market at Tikia Para.

"Our priority is to avoid large gatherings, as it is acongested market. We have taken sonic measures and requested owners of permanent shops to close them tomorrow. We are trying to explore some new sites to accommodate some vegetable shops, because it will help maintain the social distancing norms," he said.

"Police have stopped up action against the people violating the lockdown. We are taking action against those who are roaming abut unnecessarily. We have increased naka points at several areas under the supervision of senior police officers," Mr Atharv added.

Meanwhile, police arrested 322 persons, including women, for violating the knockdown across the town in the past 24 hours. Police officers said the highest number of arrests (123) was made from the Pradhan nagger area. Motorcycles and cars were also seized.

On the other hand, Mr Ponnambalam said he reviewed the situation at the Desun Hospital meant to admit suspected Covid-19 patients, and the NBMCH to know about the requirements.

He added that there are some "operational issues" and that they are trying to sort them out.

According to NBMCH doctors, they requested the official to ensure regular disinfection process at the hospital and hostels, and arrangement of a mechanised laundry.

In another development, senior medical officer (ophthalmology) Dr Susanta Roy has been entrusted to act as an officer on special duty for Covid-19 in north Bengal. According to a notice issued by the directorate of health services, Dr Roy will coordinate liaison activities related to Covid-19 in north Bengal districts with state, districts and other stake holders.'

Meanwhile, four policemen from the Bagdogra police station who were admitted in the Desun hospital yesterday tested negative for Covid -19 today, sources said.

AICTU protest: The Darjeeling district unit of the AICTU staged a demonstration in Siliguri as part of its two-day-long agitation beginning today. They are demanding that the demands of migrant labourers during the lockdown be fulfilled. The organisation has demanded declaration of a special migrant labour action plan, free social transport for safe return of migrant labourers to their homes, lock-down subsistence allowance of Rs 10,000 to all workers, including the migrants.

District AICTU president Abhijit Majumder said they had also demanded that their wages and jobs be ensured.

"There should be no wage cut and retrenchment.There should be arrangement for door-to -door delivery of ration, food and also hygienic shelter for migrants in places where they have been held up. At the same time, there should be a lockdown relief committee in every ward under the civic bodies and gram panchayat involving trade unions and interested citizens. We are also protesting against police brutality against the migrant workers, " Mr Majumder said.

Minister request to doctors: State tourism minister Gautam Deb said he had requested doctors to see patients at OPDs of nursing homes or at their residences, as many doctors had stopped seeing general patients at private facilities following the Covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Deb said he had requested the Indian Medical Association on this issue. Mr Deb handed over 350 PPEs and 500 three-layered masks to the NBMCH today.

Tax collection from 20 April: The Siliguri Municipal Corporation will start tax collection from Monday. The deadline for tax payment has been extended till June. Siliguri mayor Asok Bhattacharya said the civic authorities would exempt all from paying interest or penalties for the delay.

He said the mutation fees had also been reduced to one percent from the earlier two percent.