Unhappy with the Nagaland government’s decision to set up a BSL-2 laboratory in Tuensang district headquarters, the Confederation of Chang Students Union on Thursday staged demonstration in Tuensang town.
The union, along with civil society organisations, demanded setting up of a BSL-3 laboratory in Tuensang instead of a BSL-2 laboratory.
Four persons of the district who returned from Chennai on May 22 tested positive for Covid-19.
The union members held placards some of which read “Don’t appease us with Marry biscuits and a glass of water”, “Shift the capital to Tuensang” etc.
They also tried to block the passage of health and family welfare minister S. Pangnyu Phom to Tuensang.
The agitation was programmed at the time of the visit of Phom, adviser to information and public relations, SCERT and village guards Toshi Wungtung and principal director, health and family welfare department, D. Vizolie Suokhrie to Tuensang.
The government team held an emergency meeting with the Tuensang District Task Force at Tuensang deputy commissioner’s conference hall.
Representatives of Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation, other civil societies, church associations and Red Cross Society attended the meeting.
They pointed out serious lapses in sending buses ferrying returnees from Chennai before their Covid-19 test results were out which caused colossal damaged to the preventive measures taken by the district functionaries.
The civil society members demanded construction of a BSL-3 laboratory in Tuensang and also raised the issue of shortage of man power to run the district Covid-19 hospital.
Phom called upon all to learn from the Covid situation and come together to fight for the safety of the public.
“This is the time all stakeholders to come together for the common cause,” he added.
