Khansing Rongpi
EM, KAAC, Khansing Rongpi in Bakalia on Wednesday. Image credit - Northeast Now

An Assam Police constable, posted in the police reserve at Diphu, the headquarters of Karbi Anglong district, has been suspended from service for concealing his son’s travel history.

The son of Anil Bora, a constable in the Armed Branch of Assam Police, arrived at Diphu on March 22 from Chennai where he has been studying pursuing higher education.

But Anil Bora’s son has neither undergone medical examination nor he has maintained self-quarantine at home.

Meanwhile, the first day of the 21-day nationwide lockdown announced in the wake of COVID-19, people were seen staying inside their homes, except going out to buy essential commodities in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.

During the lockdown, at Diphu, no public and private vehicles were seen on the road other than that of police, paramilitary forces and health staff.

Meanwhile, a quarantine centre is being prepared at Diphu.

The empty building of the Transport Department Workshop of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) at Lumding Road is being given power connections by the APDCL on Wednesday evening.

In Diphu Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), as on March 22, four persons coming from outside the state were screened for COVID-19.

Confusion and misinformation are rife among the laymen here in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong regarding the lockdown.

Although grocery shops were exempted from being shut, they were asked to shut down by the police on Tuesday evening.

On Wednesday, most of the grocery shops were shut in Diphu and in spite of the authority’s assurances regarding hoarding.

The authorities warned the shop owners against price rise as the prices of most of the vegetables have gone up by 50% to 100%.

The few shops that were open here claimed that supply has dwindled.

A total of 67 people have been put under home quarantine for 14 days under Bakalia police station in Karbi Anglong.

The persons returned from their jobs in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and other states of India.

The health staff from Bakalia hospital along with police notified the persons at their homes.

Of the 67, sixteen were screened at Bakalia hospital and the rest 51 were screened at Rajapathar Public Health Centre.

The executive member (EM) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Khansing Rongpi and assistant commissioner, Upasana Dutta visited the 30-bedded Bakaliaghat Rural Hospital to take stock of the situation.

Nongee Terang is Northeast Now Correspondent in Diphu. He can be reached at: [email protected]