Not just Delhi, city ‘seals’ borders with other Haryana districts too

Bagish Jha | TNN | May 2, 2020, 07:56 IST

Gurgaon: With the Gurgaon administration on Friday initiating stringent checks at all its borders with Delhi as well as the neighbouring districts of Rewari, Jhajjar, Mewat and Faridabad to contain the spread of Covid-19, there was confusion at the various entry and exit points of the city.
Several residents, including doctors, healthcare workers and firefighters with workplaces in Delhi who had earlier been allowed movement in and out of Gurgaon on production of a valid identity card, were turned back as the administration ‘sealed’ all border crossings, except keeping the door ajar only for holders of “lockdown passes” issued by the Union home ministry and that too with a stricter protocol.
And a few healthcare workers who pleaded with the police to let them report to their workplaces in Delhi were allowed to leave on the condition that they would not be allowed entry into Gurgaon for the next few days. Similarly, Delhi residents employed with essential services in Gurgaon were allowed entry into the city with the same rider.
Strangely, there were no arrangements for thermal scanning or any medical check-up at the Sirhaul border, the busiest of four with Delhi — Palam Vihar, Kapashera and Aaya Nagar being the others. Through Sirhaul, however, trucks had uninterrupted movement. Commuters heading to Jaipur were also allowed to cross Gurgaon after thorough questioning by cops.
Dr Niharika Tiwari, who works with a private hospital in Delhi, was one such Gurgaon resident who had to return home from the Sirhaul border. “Till Thursday, we were allowed to travel to our workplaces. But on Friday I was prevented from exiting the city.” Though she was given the option to make arrangements for her stay in Delhi for the next few days if she chose to leave the city, she returned home.
Chandra Prakash, a fireman, told TOI he had to report to duty in Delhi in the morning but was forced to return home from the MG Road border. “I was supposed to take charge from the nightshift fireman. But cops did not allow me to cross the border even after showing my identity card,” he said.
Similarly, Madhulika Sharma, a Delhi resident employed with a private hospital in Gurgaon, was denied entry into the city throgh Sirhaul. “Despite repeated requests, I was not allowed to enter Gurgaon. We fall under emergency services and they should allow us.”
A number of security guards who were returning to their homes in Gurgaon’s Dundahera after their night shift in Delhi’s Kapashera area where they work at banks and ATM kiosks, were also denied entry into Gurgaon. “We live in rented accommodation in Dundahera and work in Kapashera. With police not allowing us entry, we are helpless. We have no means to make alternative accommodation arrangements in Delhi,” said Hukum Singh.
Moreover, several Delhi residents working with Gurgaon-based manufacturing units — including those producing masks and PPE kits — were asked to go back. Sanchit Nagpal, who owns a mask manufacturing unit in Gurgaon, said he was stopped at the Sirhaul border while he was on his way to collect masks from his unit for distribution in Delhi. “I have a movement pass but cops did not accept the same. This will adversely affect our business,” he said.
When contacted, police commissioner Mohammad Akil said a large number of police personnel, along with rapid action force, have been deployed at all border points to enforce the additional restrictions. “These measures were taken to check the further spread of the virus.”
“Covid-19 cases are increasing rapidly in Delhi, we want to protect our districts so it can be open gradually for economic activity,” another police official said.