Stop inter-state movement of forces: Mizoram CM to PM Narendra Modi

AIZAWL: Mizoram CM Zoramthanga on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withhold inter-state movement of all personnel of the central armed police forces (CAPF) during August to contain accelerating Covid-19 cases in the state.
In a letter written to Modi, Zoramthanga said of the 215 active Covid-19 cases in the state as on Monday, 53 are civilians while 162 are CAPF personnel. He added that the state government had written several letters to the heads of the forces to curtail avoidable movement of their personnel and to restrict inter-state movement to the extent possible.
“However, from my reading of the records maintained by the state government, it appears that the paramilitary forces are going about their deployments and leave sanctions as if it is business as usual,” the chief minister said, adding that he was informed that the incoming personnel have been freely roaming in public places and are using public utilities like banks, ATMs and market places.
“I am extremely perturbed about the propensity of the paramilitary forces turning out to be super-spreaders of Covid-19 in the state,” the CM said.
In the meanwhile, meeting of Mizoram’s top officials of the Assam Rifles, BSF, CRPF, BRO, NDRF and military, convened by state chief secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo on Monday, decided that no personnel of the army, paramilitary forces and central police organisations should enter the state from outside till August 15.
The decision was made in view of the large number of security personnel, who returned to the state, being infected with Covid-19. The meeting decided that permission to return to the state from outside would be taken after August 15, based on the situation of the pandemic.
Chuaungo said the massive spread of coronavirus among the forces was extremely disturbing and should be checked and controlled expeditiously to prevent community spread in the state. He urged the senior officials of the security forces to prohibit inter-state movement of personnel unless utmost necessary.
The forces should strictly adhere to the standard operating procedure (SOP) formulated by the state government, the chief secretary told the security forces senior officials.
Of the 482 Covid-19 cases detected in Mizoram, 242 are from the paramilitary forces, central police organisations and the army, while civilians accounted for 240 cases. While 15,432 civilians from outside have returned to Mizoram since the last part of May, there were only 240 Covid-19 cases among them. On the other hand, 242 security officials infected with the virus were from the mere 2,124 personnel who returned from other states after the expiry of their leave.
Meanwhile, Mizoram recorded 12 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the state’s count to 482.