SHILLONG: The KSU South West Khasi Hills District claimed that government authorities are instilling fear by informing the family members of the union that the engineer of National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), who was assaulted on Sunday evening, has showed symptoms of COVID-19.
In a statement issued here, the union president, Forward Nongrem, also took offence that the deputy commissioner had directed the KSU Nonglang unit to undergo quarantine as they were alleged to have been involved in the assault of NHIDCL engineer.
He said that it was also shocking as the DC did not directly inform the members but verbally communicated through the Myntri of Nonglang.
The union has demanded that the government authorities in Ri Bhoi, East Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills and Directorate of Health Services should investigate into the matter vis-à-vis the NHIDCL engineer.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the KSU South West Khasi Hills District asserted that the state government and the district administration of South West Khasi Hills have failed in handling the COVID-19 cases.
Nongrem, while stating that the Deputy Commissioner, Isawanda Laloo, called the traditional heads to discuss on ways to put in place stringent measures on the movement of locals, argued that the DC did not call the leaders for talks with regard to permission to allow entry of outsiders in the district.
The KSU leader alleged that the DC neglected the plight of the poor local folks such as the vendors, cobblers, etc., but instead laid emphasis on development by allowing outsiders in the face of a pandemic.
“Why is the movement of locals being restricted while there is free movement for the outsiders? The anxiety to eke out a living overrides other anxieties. Let us not discuss about developmental activities. At the same time, the distribution of PDS rice is also contentious,” Nongrem said.
