Auto-rickshaw drivers plying without possessing COVID Free Certificate were detained by the volunteers of CTF Kangpokpi and police personnel.
TFM Kangpokpi Representative
Setting an example in the fight against COVID-19, markets were allowed to open in Kangpokpi district on Monday with the possession of “COVID Free Certificate”.
The seven COVID Task Force of Kangpokpi AC constituted by the local MLA Nemcha Kipgen had decided to open the grocery shops in their respective areas only after the shopkeepers possessed COVID Free Certificate as part of its preventive measure.
Kangpokpi had during the first wave introduced a common screening centre for all returnees of the district and roster duty of magistrates, doctors, etc.
As grocery shops began to open on Monday morning for a brief period of three hours from 7 am to 10 am, the COVID Task Force Kangpokpi in collaboration with personnel of Kangpokpi Police Station systematically monitored the opening of the grocery market.
They first checked all the grocery shop owners whether they possessed the COVID Free Certificate or not and allowed only those possessing the certificate to open their shops and restricted those who did not possess COVID Free Certificate while asking them to get tested and obtain the certificate if they wanted to open their shops.
The CTF Kangpokpi volunteers led by its chairman Haolet Khongsai and personnel of Kangpokpi PS led by its Officer-in-Charge, Inspector Henminthang Kipgen also monitored the movement of shoppers and shopkeepers ensuring that they strictly followed COVID Appropriate Behavior.
The CTF Kangpokpi volunteers were also seen distributing masks to shoppers while cautioning them they would be detained and handed over to the police next time.
Meanwhile, as the COVID Task Force Kangpokpi had issued prior information through newspapers and personal information to the auto-rickshaw association of Kangpokpi, any auto-rickshaw driver plying without possessing COVID Free Certificate were detained by the volunteers of CTF Kangpokpi and police personnel.
Around 30 auto-rickshaws were detained but those on emergency transporting ill patients were immediately released with a strict warning while the rest were detained for more than an hour and released only after being strictly warned by the COVID Task Force Kangpokpi Chairman and OC Kangpokpi PS.
The auto-rickshaw drivers were also warned that if they happened to ply without COVID Free Certificate and caught again, they will be fined and necessary action will be initiated while cautioning not to ply with overloaded passengers.
Meanwhile, CTF Kangpokpi chairman, Haolet Khongsai appeals to all auto-rickshaws from other districts to come to the district with COVID Free Certificate from a competent authority while adding that irrespective of where they belong, any auto-rickshaw drivers without possessing COVID Free Certificate will be caught and fined by the police from tomorrow.
He then urged the general public to travel or hire only those auto-rickshaw drivers having COVID Free Certificate otherwise they will also be in trouble when such auto-rickshaws are caught and detained.
Meanwhile, shopkeepers who were not willing to get tested and obtained negative certificates earlier are now queuing up by themselves at District Hospital Kangpokpi or approaching the COVID Task Force Kangpokpi for testing.
More than 40 shopkeepers were seen queuing up at District Hospital Kangpokpi this morning and all were found negative after being tested by the COVID Testing team of District Hospital Kangpokpi.
Haolet Khongsai further said that as informed earlier, the task force will also begin checking all the vegetable vendors at Nute Kailhang and door-to-door vegetable sellers, and anyone found without COVID Free Certificate will be restricted to sell vegetables.
He also said that the CTF Kangpokpi will approach the District Magistrate/DC Kangpokpi to reconsider the timing of opening market from 12 noon till 3 pm instead of 7 am to 10 am as it is causing inconvenience for people coming from far flung areas like Twilang area under T. Waichong Sub Division, etc.
Meanwhile, he appealed to the people of Kangpokpi to cooperate with the COVID Task Force and police in ensuring the safety of the people during the opening of the market while conveying heartfelt gratitude to SP Kangpokpi for providing a committed and dedicated police officer like Inspector Henminthang Kipgen, OC Kangpokpi PS to coordinate with the COVID Task Force in monitoring the opening of the market and ensuring COVID Appropriate Behavior particularly in the town.