Quarantine officials clarify police action, Ganeshnagar row

Our Reporter
Dimapur, June 23 (EMN): The news that inmates of the Ganeshnagar quarantine centre in Dimapur were allegedly ‘electrocuted’ by a taser and beaten up by police personnel began doing the rounds on various social media platforms on the evening of June 22.

Officials have clarified the cause of the incident saying that the issue started when the returnees from Bengaluru complained of spoilt food, which aggravated into provocation, and even ‘challenging’ the security personnel by the individuals.       

Shedding some light on the incident, an official at the Ganeshnagar quarantine centre informed Eastern Mirror that a complaint was received during dinner time that a curry item that was served was spoilt.

“We have an established procedure for these types of issues where we take note of the complaint, and replace food packets but some inmates started protesting and making a scene,” the official said.

The official informed that even the mosquito net posts on the beds were taken out by the inmates, started challenging the security personnel, and started getting aggressive.

‘The security personnel tried to calm them down but some inmates started provoking the other section of returnees. This was a threat to other inmates,’ the official said.

“There was a need for us to push them back to their quarantine halls as they will infect other inmates; that was when non-lethal shock batons had to be used to calm down the situation,” the source said, adding that although the incident is unfortunate, enforcement was required for the greater good of the other individuals there.

The official explained further that many inmates had been staying longer than the 14-day quarantine period stipulated for them as their release orders were delayed.

“These are all pent-up frustrations rather than about just spoilt food. The management here has no hand in the release of inmates and have to wait for official order,” the official said.

The source said there are 754 inmates and 300 staff members at the quarantine centre catering to the welfare of the individuals.  

“We cannot satisfy each and every individual’s demands but we are trying our best to make their stay as comfortable as possible,” the official said.

This newspaper also spoke to an inmate over telephone. The individual claimed that the returnees from Bengaluru were served spoilt food ‘for the third time’ and had complained to the personnel about it.

“The police at first spoke rudely and further it led to them using their tasers and lathi charging us,” said the individual who did not want to be named.

The inmate informed that the building where the incident took place has 60 occupants and everyone got alarmed.

“Everyone started screaming and shouting and started running out. That is when the police started hitting us with their sticks randomly,” the inmate, who also received a few bruises, said.

The individual added that the incident happened between the police personnel and the returnees from Bengaluru.