Covid-19: Assam to continue with strict lockdown measures till May 3

Assam chief secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna said strict measures for the lockdown will continue till May 3.

Published on: Apr 20, 2020, 22:56:49 IST

Hindustan Times, Guwahati | By Utpal Parashar

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Brushing aside speculations about a lot of relaxations after April 20, the Assam government made it clear on Monday that strict lockdown measures will be in place till May 3.

Medics leave for their homes after completing mandatory 14-days of quarantine at Taj Vivanta Hotel during a nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, in Guwahati on Monday. (PTI)

“Our fight against Covid-19 continues. The idea among the public that there would be a lot of relaxations isn’t true. Strict measures for the lockdown will continue till May 3,” said Assam chief secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna.

He added that relaxations announced by the Centre will, however, be allowed in the state with strict monitoring. Government offices in Assam will start functioning from April 21.

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While senior officials will have to come to office regularly, only 30% of Grade III and Grade IV employees will be allowed to come to office at one time based on a duty roster prepared by respective offices. Social distancing and other safety precautions will have to be in place.

All activities related to agriculture, food processing, drugs, medical units, manufacturers of fertilizers etc, will be allowed to operate provided they keep their workforce in one place and ensure their transportation. E-commerce activities will also be permitted.

Assam’s director general of police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said that strict action would be taken against those flouting lockdown guidelines.

“From today police would try to play more of a facilitating role. But our enforcement duty related to lockdown will continue. We will facilitate all those who fall under exempted categories, but if anyone flouts the rules we will be very strict,” he said.

Since the lockdown began, 735 offensive and fake posts on social media have been removed, 45 people arrested for posting such things, over 200 counselled and 85 cases registered against misuse of social media. Over 25,000 vehicles have been seized by the police till date.

“I would like to reiterate that there would be no relaxation of lockdown norms. All rules will have to be followed and anyone flouting including things like not wearing masks in public and spitting or urinating in public will be dealt with strictly,” said Mahanta.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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