Our Reporter
Dimapur, May 29 (EMN): Following public outcry over the deportation of returnees to Tuensang before declaration of Covid-19 test results, MLA Muthingnyuba Sangtam recounted his first-hand account of events leading to the transfer of returnees and the controversies surrounding it.
In his statement, Sangtam narrated his encounter and experience highlighting the efforts made by the Nagaland legislators "even though they failed to stop this from happening." The legislator stated that "after the demand to send all the stranded citizens to their respective districts, huge concerns were raised amongst various eastern Naga civil society and without wasting time the ENPO, Sangtam Likhum Pumji, Yimchunger Tribal Council and Eastern Sumi Organisation and the entities appealed to the competent authorities to keep the returnees from outside, especially those who have arrived from Chennai, in Kohima and Dimapur until proper tests are conducted and the results are obtained."
He also lamented that the Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union’s (ENLU) appeal to the authorities not to send the returnees until mandatory tests were conducted fell on deaf ears.
"In this regard the Eastern Nagaland Legislators Union (ENLU) had a marathon meeting on May 26 in Kohima appealing the authorities not to send them until mandatory tests are conducted. However all the appeals fell in the deaf ears. As the matter was under discussion the authorities went behind our backs to clandestinely proceed with the sending off of the people to Tuensang,” he alleged.
To the dismay of the people, one person amongst those sent was confirmed Covid-19 positive.
As a last resort, he claimed that he along with his four fellow members of ENLU decided to go down to the Covid-19 war room at the Nagaland civil secretariat at about 6 pm to request the concerned senior officials to review the decision of sending the returnees to Tuensang and recall them to Kohima.
"Literally following the lockdown protocol, the war room was also sealed with a lock," he alleged and added that as they were running out of time and options they decided to meet the Kohima Deputy Commissioner, also the nodal officer for transportation in the district.
"The DC conveyed to us that he was awaiting further instructions on May 25 as he was aware of the concern raised by Eastern Naga civil society. He admitted that the instructions to send the buses at 2-2:30 pm came from the higher authorities and that bringing them back was beyond his power and capabilities," he maintained.
Who should be held responsible for the increasing cases- the CM, Minister of Health and Family welfare, the empowered committee on Covid-19 or the Nagaland state war room? he asked.
The appeals and concerns of ENLU and other eastern Naga civil society were ignored, he alleged.