Imposes 48-hour lockdown in district
Newmai News Network
Senapati | May 17
The civil society organizations of Senapati district have served a 48-hour ultimatum to the State Government of Manipur to suspend Deputy Commissioner Somorjit Salam from his service for allegedly flouting the COVID-19 protocols. This resolution was taken during a meeting on Sunday.
In the ultimatum signed by Presidents of Naga People’s Organisation (NPO), Senapati District Women Association (SDWA) and the Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA), the organizations said that a meeting was held on Sunday “considering the public outcry and possibility of social unrest on the issue.” It was decided during the meeting that the organizations would raise the demand for immediate suspension of Deputy Commissioner Somorjit Salam from service. It also demanded a government inquiry into the whole “unwanted incident” and for the officer to be booked under the National Disaster Management Act 2005.
According to the ultimatum, the Deputy Commissioner flouted the COVID-19 quarantine protocols on May 13 when he allegedly permitted an Imphal bound bus carrying 36 stranded people who were returning from outside Manipur, to pass during “no entry hours” from Mao Gate through Senapati district.
The ultimatum also alleged that, “the Deputy Commissioner, in utter negligence and endangering many lives, allowed the incoming passengers to halt and then the officer hosted a dinner for the night on May 13 at Multi-Purpose Hall, a non designated quarantine centre located near the DC Complex of Senapati district headquarters.”
The ultimatum also mentioned that the residents of the DC Complex neighbourhood “have expressed their concerns as most of the passengers were even allowed to move freely and got access to public ATM booths, tea stalls and shops.”
According to the ultimatum, the passengers left the Senapati town in the morning of May 14 “leaving a trail of serious health concerns” as two of the 36 passengers subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 on May 16.
“The Senapati district civil society organizations, on behalf of the people express strong resentment and serious health concerns over the utter negligence of Deputy Commissioner Somorjit Salam for flouting all norms of COVID-19 and quarantine protocol on May 13,” stated the ultimatum, adding that the officer had made a mockery of all government orders and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on border entry and quarantine protocol for those returning to Manipur.
The 48-hour ultimatum served to the Manipur government comes into effect from 6:00 pm of May 17 and will lapse at 6:00 pm of May 19.
In this regard, the organisations also called for 48-hour total lockdown in the district starting from 6: 00 am of May 18 to 6:00 am, May 20. Those exempted services from the total lockdown include medical, fire brigade, media and permit holders of stranded persons entering Manipur, the organisations stated, as it appealed the general public to remain at home and avoid violating the lockdown.
Meanwhile, the organisations warned that failure from the side of the state government of Manipur to meet the demand within the set deadline will attract intense agitation.
“Therefore, understanding the urgent necessity to remove such irresponsible district administrator who can hamper all efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic issue, the civil society organizations request you to consider the demand positively,” the ultimatum added.
