SHILLONG: Not many in the city or on the outskirts took the lockdown/curfew in the previous weeks seriously as they were “bored” staying at home. But it took one positive case of COVID-19 to keep even the ‘bravehearts’ prone to flouting restrictions inside their houses on Tuesday.
A doctor at Bethany Hospital in Nongrim Hills was tested positive on Monday creating panic among residents. A day after, the city turned into a ghost town implying a successful curfew.
Police too were stringent in enforcing the 48-hour curfew, which kicked in from 6 am on Tuesday.
The hospital and its adjoining localities were barricaded and policemen in personal protective gear were seen guarding the entry point to Nongrim Hills.
In some localities like Lumsohphoh, people preferred to communicate with strangers through windows and not a single person was seen on the road.
Motphran, one of the busiest areas in Shillong, was under tight security. A stray dog lazed in the middle of the road as RAF personnel made rounds of the junction. “There is more security here and Police Bazar as these are the sensitive areas, as you know,” an RAF inspector told The Shillong Times.
The only presence in Police Bazar was that of the RAF personnel.
Elsewhere, only a few cars and two-wheelers were plying on roads.
The Dorbar Shnong in many localities in the city closed entry and exit points on Tuesday.
Streets and lanes leading to localities like Lumsohphoh in Nongthymmai, Nongkseh and Lummawbah in Upper Shillong were barricaded with bamboos and volunteers were seen guarding the entry points in several places.
The bamboo barricade near the steep lane at Jingkieng leading to Lumsohphoh had a notice pinned to it that read, “No entry/exit for vehicles and people.” A phone number was also provided for emergency cases.
In Upper Shillong, Dorbar volunteers were seen guarding the street that leads to Umlyngka, Lummawbah and Nongkseh. The members of the Dorbar Shnong of Raid Sawkur Nongkseh, some of whom were carrying walkie-talkies, said they intensified the restrictions after the positive case was reported.
“The walkie-talkies have been procured by the Dorbar. Currently, there are 15 volunteers here but we work in shifts. We are not allowing anyone from outside to enter the localities. The village defense party, police and the Rangbah Dong are working together to ensure safety,” said a volunteer on condition of anonymity.
The Dorbar Shnong also swung into action after news of the first positive case spread on Monday and visited every household in the localities to make a list of people who visited the Bethany hospitals in the city as well as Nongpoh.
“We found a few names but I cannot tell you the exact figure right now. We have already submitted the list to the government,” replied another volunteer to a question about the number of people being registered for self-isolation.
There are around 2,000 households under the Dorbar Shnong.
Arju Dkhar, the secretary of the Lummawbah Dorbar, said monitoring has become necessary as illegal liquor is being smuggled into the localities from villages.
“Local brew was found in a nearby forest. So we have to be extra careful. No one should violate government rules and we are ensuring that,” added Dkhar.
There were several barricades in the localities and the volunteers were seen checking every car that was passing through the lanes.
