18 People from Assam Stuck in Aizawl & Jowai amid Nationwide Lockdown

Dispur, March 27, 2020:

It has now come to light that at least 18 people from Assam, most of them daily-wage laborers, are stuck in the neighboring states of Mizoram and Meghalaya in the midst of the 21-day lockdown called by the Central Government to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. While seven people are stuck at Bara Bazaar under Aizawl Police Station, 11 are stranded in Jowai, Meghalaya.

Taking note of this, Assam's leader of opposition, Debabrata Saikia, has called upon the DCs in the respective districts -- Aizawl and West Jaintia Hills -- to provide them with food and other necessities in the midst of the shutdown.

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Talking to Inside Northeast, Saikia says, "I was informed about this by our MLAs from Goalpara East and West who stressed on the plight faced by the people. Thus, I felt it imperative to call upon the DCs to provide relief measures. I have also intimated about the situation to my fellow Congressmen in those states -- they have promised to take action."

Penning a note to the DC of Aizawl, Pu Vanlalngaihsaka, Saikia wrote, "I would like to inform you that about 7 people from Goalpara West LAC under Goalpara Distict of Assam who had gone to work for livelihood are stuck at Bara Bazaar under Aizwal Police Station, in your district since last many days." The Congress leader from Assal called upon the local administration to provide them relief material like food and other necessary items at the earliest for their survival during this difficult time.

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In another note, which the Assam Congress leader penned to the DC of West Jaintia Hills, Garod L.S.N. Dykes, Saikia urged for a similar help. "I would like to inform you that about 12 people from different places of Assam, mainly, Goalpara, Dhubri and Mankachar who had gone to work for livelihood are stuck at a place near Nangtalang Civil Hospital, PS. Amlaram, Jowai, PIN 793109 in your district since last many days", Saikia wrote.

Saikia further stated that the people stranded in Jowai are facing acute shortage of food and necessary items. "I would therefore, request you kindly to provide them relief items like food and other necessary items at the earliest for their survival during this difficult time", Saikia added in his note.

It is pertinent to mention here that there are several instances of Assamese people, and also people from other NE states, of being stranded in other parts of India amid the 21-day lockdown, which will end on April 14.

Earlier today, a video of people from the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) appealing the Government for help, was widely circulated in the media. These people from Assam, who had gone to the South Indian state to eke out a living, have now found themselves thrust into the limelight in the middle of the worst health crisis that the modern world has ever known.

According to Inside Northeast sources, the locals are stuck in areas of Kerala such as Malapram, Pokkootur, and Manjari Road. Now, the Assamese people who are stuck in the South Indian State have appealed the Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal as well as the BTC head Hagramato take a special initiative to rescue them.

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