Lockdown with a difference this time

May 16, 2021 61 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 16

Dimapur went into lockdown beginning 6:00 pm on May 14 for a period of seven days till May 21. There was a perceptible difference this time as unlike last year, the transition to lockdown was rather smooth with minimal police presence and the absence of the dreaded self-styled neighbourhood youth enforcers within the municipal area.

Localities within town, except one or two, chose not to affect self-imposed lockdowns leaving it to the judgment of the citizenry to respect the government decision. It was only beyond the municipal limits, on the NH 29 stretch, where youth volunteers were seen guarding entry points.

“When I did my rounds today, I saw that the municipal area was devoid of civilian volunteers standing guard. It was only on the highway stretch that youth volunteers were seen keeping vigil at the entry points to residential areas,” commented one police official, when asked on the public response. The official, however, added that it would be safer for the public to stay put at home, instead of crowding in the name of vigilance.

Queried on the minimal police deployment, the official admitted to having learnt from the previous year’s experience. “It is not wise to detail police personnel in big groups for enforcing lockdown in the midst of a pandemic. We don’t want to risk spread among the police personnel. If one gets infected, it would imply at least a dozen other personnel going into quarantine, thereby impacting policing.”

On the public response, he commented that the public has been more disciplined this time.

As observed by the police official, the panic and rush of people queuing up at shops was missing, displaying an impression that the dangers of the fast-spreading virus have dawned on the public.

With the exception of pharmacies, essential shops were seen shutting down on the stipulated closing time on day one, while most confined shopping for essentials to neighbourhood shops.

As the sun set, police personnel stood vigil at strategic road intersections, while several entry-exit points to residential neighbourhoods falling along the main thoroughfares were barricaded, which served the purpose of telling people to reconsider travelling unless very necessary. Any person/vehicle without permission to travel were asked to turn back home.

Meanwhile, entry points into Dimapur, except Newfield and Dillai inter-state check-posts were found sealed with bamboo barricades, especially the ones falling along the border with neighbouring Boro Lengri in Karbi-Anglong. It stopped vehicular movement; however, people could still enter Dimapur for essentials.

Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/lockdown-with-a-difference-this-time