After authorities allay NRC fears, residents agree to Covid-19 health check-ups in Hindpiri, Ranchi

The residents had refused to undergo tests and screenings fearing that the information taken from them was just a cover-up to conduct an NRC survey

Covid 19Image Courtesy: hindustantimes.com

Residents of the Hindpiri locality in Ranchi have now agreed to undergo the health check-ups and screening for Covid-19 after the district administration called for a meeting with religious leaders of the community who convinced the residents to undergo the tests.

The residents of the Hindpiri locality in Ranchi on Thursday had objected to the entry of health workers because of rumours that the screening undertaken to identify people with Covid-19 was actually a cover-up to conduct a survey for the National Register of Citizens (NRC), reported The Telegraph India. Allegedly, they drove away cops and medical teams by erecting barricades in the area not allowing the health care workers and police to enter the area.

It must be noted that the Jharkhand government had passed a resolution against the NRC saying that the same wouldn’t be implemented in the state.

Hindpiri has been named as the epicenter for the virus after the first case in Jharkhand was recorded here. A Malaysian woman who had tested positive for the virus had stayed in the locality, after which the authorities quarantined areas within a 3km radius. Post this, 100 health workers, along with officials from the Ranchi district administration went door-to-door in the area to conduct health check-ups and screen the residents.

However, when this happened, a large group of residents came out of their homes refusing to share the details of their family members and their travel history, apart from refusing to get the health check-ups done.

Due to this, the health workers could not begin the health check-up and screenings till 2:30 PM and were eventually forced to return from the area. Anjuman Islamia, a progressive social outfit that pleaded with residents to cooperate with health workers also couldn’t make a difference.

India Blooms News Service reported Ward councilor of the area, Sajda Khatoon as saying that no one in the area was infected by Covid-19 and on the contrary people were likely to be infected if the medical team went to their homes for screening.

Ranchi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rai Mahimapat Ray, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anish Gupta and Traffic SP Peter Dungdung who reached the area after the incident to allay their fears told them that the health check-ups had no connection with the NRC.

The DC told The Telegraph over phone on Thursday evening that they would resume the health drive in Hindpiri “soon”.

He said, “They had some misconceptions that under the guise of a health check-up and screening, the government is carrying out a survey for NRC. That is far from reality. We convinced them this has nothing to do with the NRC. Their health check-up is necessary since Jharkhand’s first case was detected from Hindpiri. We have to move fast for everyone’s health.”

Reacting to the situation Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren had said, ““Everybody should cooperate. People should extend their support. Only through social distancing and awareness can we defeat this pandemic.”

Since the incident, the people in the area have been made to understand the gravity of the situation and the screening for Covid-19 is currently underway in the area.

 

Related:

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Indian medics: Why should we risk our lives?

 

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