Tripura district to send quarantine violators to up to 2-year jail

AGARTALA: In an attempt to reduce the number of people flouting quarantine rules in the state, the Sepahijala district administration of West Tripura has said violators will be sent to a "quarantine jail".
"Anyone found violating home/institutional quarantine will be arrested and jailed. The imprisonment may extend up to two years," said district magistrate of Sepahijala C K Jamatia, adding that the jail was made operational in Sonamura from Sunday under the supervision of the jail superintendent.Jamatia declared three administrative blocks - Nalchar, Kathalia and Boxanagar - as containment zones for the next two weeks following the surge in cases.
The district administration officials said the government was compelled to take such a decision following violation of quarantine norms by a section of people, despite repeated warnings, which increased the risk of spread of the disease. Besides, there have been reports of health workers facing resistance from families of those testing positive, as they tried to take them to hospital.
"The family members of some asymptomatic patients questioned the authenticity of the test and argued that since the person was fit, they should not be taken to hospital," officials said, adding that in some cases, police help was necessary to take such patients to hospital.
According to reports, till Sunday night, 1,064 positive cases were detected in Tripura, 474 of them from Sepahijala. More than 95% positive patients came from outside, further increasing the risk of community transmission, since most of them were asymptomatic.
While the superintendent of police has made security arrangements in the jail, the health department has deputed a medical officer to supervise those in quarantine and provide medical care. The district administration would, however, look into the required facilities for the inmates as well as the staff.