SIKKIM POLICE CONSTANT VIGIL ALONG THE STATE BORDERS
Awareness level very high among our border police personnel: DIG
BIJOY GURUNG
GANGTOK: Police personnel deputed at frontlines have absorbed the critical importance of keeping the inter-State borders of Sikkim impenetrable and thus, there is no space for any laxity on their part to prevent Covid-19 entry.
“Police personnel are at the forefront and seriously manning the border checkposts and patrolling the border areas in east and west districts. Our police personnel are totally aware that there should be no laxity or negligence from their part. A person could sneak into Sikkim and maybe carrying coronavirus. This awareness regarding this is very, very high among our police personnel,” said DIG (Range) Sonam T. Bhutia to SIKKIM EXPRESS on Wednesday.
Our force is very serious on this and a the police personnel have been made aware of the situation and as to why they are at the border and patrolling all the possible routes to maintain the lockdown, said Bhutia.
Besides the checkposts, Sikkim Police have been constantly patrolling the porous border areas and riverine stretches in east and west districts adjacent to Kalimpong and Darjeeling districts of West Bengal. Concertina wires are installed at the traditional routes where movement on foot is possible.
Recently, chief secretary S.C. Gupta had told media that Covid-19 threat for Sikkim exists only from outside the State.
Asked on how the police sees this threat perception, the DIG (Range) pointed out to Centre’s concerns that around 80% of the Covid-19 infections are asymptomatic, meaning the person could be healthy but carrying the virus. Unless one is tested, it is not known whether the person is infected or not…that is the biggest threat at present, and based on this angle, we must consider that anyone entering Sikkim could be a threat and that’s why there is serious patrolling and vigilance by our police along the borders, he said.
Since day one of the Covid-19 threat and before the lockdown started on March 25, Sikkim Police personnel are assisting the Health workers at the checkposts and also checking the credentials of the persons entering the State. In this context, the men and women in uniform are considered to be in high exposure group and it was asked whether they should undertaken self-quarantine of 14 days at some point of time.
The DIG (Range) replied that police personnel at the checkposts are maintaining strict safety protocols and safe distancing. “There is not direct contact of our personnel with the transporters entering Sikkim. We have told our personnel to strictly maintain safe distancing,” he said.
The safe distancing protocol followed by police personnel is the length of their stick from the end of their hand. The distance comes to around 6-7 feet while interacting or checking the passes of the transporters or those entering Sikkim through Rangpo and Melli.
At present, by the grace of God, there is no such need for sending our personnel into quarantine, said Bhutia.
Asked whether the police force and its resources in Sikkim have seen exhaustion creeping in given the additional responsibilities brought about by the lockdown since March 25, the DIG (Range) maintained it is not the case. We have sufficient force and our people are doing duties on rotation, he said.
Bhutia said the Forest department is helping the Police department to patrol some of the border areas in east and west districts.
“We have not exhausted our manpower and our personnel are given sufficient rest. It is one of the instructions down the line that our personnel should be safe from coronavirus and also get sufficient rest,” he said.
Around 2,000 police personnel are on active duty across the State at present.
The Sikkim government had given partial relaxations in the lockdown from April 20 but the next day, went to full lockdown mode.
Asked if there were lockdown violations on April 20 and 21, the DIG (Range) said there were no such instances. We had some reports but we intervened to ensure that there isn’t a group of more than five persons at one place, he said.
“On April 20, the lockdown was partially open and a lot of people came out. Many had mistakenly thought that the lockdown had opened whereas it was just a partial opening. We had to do miking again appealing the people that it is not full lockdown opening and people need to get back and stay indoors,” said Bhutia.
MARKETING OF FLOWERS LAUNCHED TO SUPPORT GROWERS
SE Report
GANGTOK: To support the livelihood of floriculture farmers during the lockdown period, the State Horticulture department has started marketing of cut and potted flowers directly sourced from farmers’ field from Krishi Bhawan complex through direct sales as well as through home delivery by Mitho.
The initiative has been taken to support the flower growers and facilitate customers to get flowers at their doorsteps in this hour of lockdown due to Covid-19.
A press release informs, the first day’s response was overwhelming and the department would continue with the process in a bigger way to assist farmers from tomorrow onwards.
There are varieties of flowers available for sale for which customers have been advised to contact the department at 9434117687, 9593444413, 9434137409. Also, Mitho delivery service can be contacted at 7908272850 for home delivery.sikkimexpress/from, india
