Total curfew in Manipur begins under tight security to curb Covid transmissions

Armed and unarmed security personnel were stationed at every strategic location and junction in and around the state capital of Imphal to crack down on curfew violators.

The 10-day long complete curfew in Manipur began on Sunday with an aim to break the chain of Covid-19 transmissions that have resulted in 10,812 active cases in the north eastern state as of Saturday.

A few pharmacies were operating in Imphal on the first day of the total curfew in Manipur on Sunday. (AP/File/Representative use)

All roads leading to the state capital wore a deserted look with only a few essential service vehicles plying and all shops except a few pharmacies were closed.

Armed and unarmed security personnel were stationed at every strategic location and junction in and around the state capital to crack down on curfew violators.

The curfew in the other district headquarters of the state was also very effective as residents remained indoors while police personnel ensured tight security arrangements.

“There’s no sound of movement of vehicles since early. It seems the curfew is very strict,” said a resident of Churachandpur district headquarters, around 70 km south of Imphal.

Local body and civil society organisations in the state were also supporting the total curfew, calling it the only way to tackle the present situation. Jeetendra Ningomba of Joint Committee on Covid-19 appealed to the masses to strictly follow the rules to aid in the fight against the pandemic and to get vaccinated at the earliest.

Daily Covid cases in the north eastern border state breached the 1000-mark for the 4th consecutive day and the death toll rose to 1,365. State’s total infection tally has increased to 83,859, while 73,047 patients have recovered so far.