NGOs question admin over violation of Covid protocols

HP NEWS SERVICE
Tura, Jun 30: Various NGOs from the North Garo Hills region have written to the State Chief Secretary over allegations of Covid-19 protocol violation by the district administration.
The objections came after five persons, who recently returned from Mumbai, a Covid-19 hotspot, to Mendipathar, are not residents of the State but are undergoing quarantine there.
According to the NGOs, none of them are residents of Meghalaya but are relatives of a businessman living in the Assam section of Mendipathar.
The GSU, AYWO and AHAM said the businessman, Birendra Rajpurohit, is a proprietor of Mega Mart group having branches across the district.
They alleged that some unscrupulous officers from the district allowed these persons to enter the State through the Bajengdoba entry-exit point which now posed serious danger to the local populace.
“The businessman is not a bonafide citizen of the State and is living in a rented house in the Assam section. Since he is a successful businessman, it seems he has been able to link himself with higher ups in the administration. Some influential officers allowed these people to enter into North Garo Hills compromising the lives of the people,” said the NGOs.
“To our surprise, the relatives of Birendra Rajpurohit are allowed to enter North Garo Hills, violating the prescribed rules of lock down. Interestingly, the head of district administration had directed them to stay at Mendipathar Multipurpose Hall without informing the concerned medical team of Mendipathar Community Health Centre. Even police personnel and local leaders were not aware,” they added.
In their letter to the chief secretary, the NGOs have demanded immediate sealing of the shops of the businessman. They also sought immediate correction of the anomalies that took place in allowing the family to be quarantined in the State.
“Common people may mistakenly enter the shops of these businessmen and get infected,” they argued.