Our
Correspondent
Kohima, March 31 (EMN): Forced by the public’s
continued indifference to various precautionary measures as well as prohibitive
order, the government of Nagaland on Tuesday announced its decision to impose a
total lockdown of Dimapur for three days, starting 6 am on April 1.
Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton told journalists in Kohima that the decision was taken during a cabinet meeting held on March 30.
The District Magistrate of Dimapur had imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in the commercial town, starting 6 am of March 24 until further orders.
According to Patton, the three-day lockdown is a precautionary measure. Shops and outlets selling essential commodities have not been exempted from the lockdown.
He appealed to the people of Nagaland to maintain social distancing and adhere to the directives issued by the government.
Patton also said that the government of India had assured to set up a Covid-19 testing centre in Nagaland ‘very soon’.
Donates masks, hand sanitisers
The deputy chief minister handed over surgical masks and hand sanitisers to the Health department and Nagaland Police.
A total of 7,000 masks and 1,5000 hand sanitisers each were received by Director General of Police, Nagaland, T John Longkumer and Principal Director of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Vizolie Z Suokhrie on Tuesday.
Patton commended the services and efforts of the two departments and said: "The Police and Health department are doing fantastic job for the people of Nagaland."
He expressed willingness to extend any help and support.
Dimapur administration issues prohibitive orders
The commissioner of police and district magistrate of Dimapur issued further prohibitive order—imposing total restriction on public and vehicular movement in the district from 6 am of April 1 to April 3 midnight.
Exemptions have been made for personnel from the police, army, paramilitary force; magistrate on duty, doctors and medical staff; employees of media houses, treasury, banks, power, PHED, telecom; and vehicular transportation of essential goods.
Violators would be punished under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, it warned.
In a separate order, the deputy commissioner of Dimapur directed all shops, commercial and private establishments to remain closed from 6 am of April 1 to April 3 midnight.
According to the order, exemptions have been made for personnel from the police, army, paramilitary force; magistrate on duty, doctors and medical staff; bank staff and persons engaged in emergency services.