Lockdown in Dimapur
A deserted street in Dimapur. Image credit: Bhadra Gogoi

The Nagaland government has extended the total lockdown, which has been declared to contain coronavirus, in Dimapur till April 5.

District magistrate and commissioner of police Rothihu Tetseo has extended total restriction on movement for general public and vehicles in the district with effect from 12 midnight of Friday to 12 midnight of April 5.

In the order issued last night, the district magistrate said the movement of police, army, paramilitary forces, magistrates, district administration, doctors, medical staff, chemists, pharmacists, media, Dimapur Municipal Council, sanitation, treasury, banks, power, public health engineering department, Indian Oil Corporation, Food Corporation of India, food and civil supplies department, airport and railway staff and telecom and private internet service providers in discharge of official duty and vehicles transporting essential commodities would be exempted.

In a complementary order, Dimapur deputy commissioner Anoop Khinchi directed closure of all commercial establishments and private establishments, except certain essential services as included in the district magistrate’s order.

The deputy commissioner’s order also provided contact numbers for civilians, who are not part of the exemption list, to reach out to in case of any emergency: 8787551751 (ambulance and medicines), 6009924366 (DC’s office control room), 7085055050 (police control room), 7630877991/7630877983 (medical control room).

Khinchi said the containment measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus would remain in force in all parts of Dimapur district.

On March 31, the district magistrate initially imposed total lockdown in the district for three days restricting public and vehicular movement from 6am on March 1 till 12 midnight of Friday.

In the prohibitory order, Tetseo said a situation has arisen that warranted restriction on movement of the public in order to ensure self-isolation and social distancing in public places.

The district magistrate cautioned that violation of the order would be liable for punitive punishment under Section 188 of the IPC.