Police to keep eye out for migrant workers arriving in hired vehicles

PRAYAGRAJ: The police has now sprung into action to check the entry of people from other cities and states through highways, secretly, without being tested for coronavirus, in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19 infection in Prayagraj.

It came to light that many persons are returning home from other states and cities without getting tested which poses a threat of the infection spreading, especially in rural areas of the district.

Fearing lockdown, a large number of migrant workers have started returning to their native places from Delhi, Mumbai, Gujarat and other cities and states. While those returning by train and bus are being tested at railway and bus stations, many escape the test as they are arriving in trucks and hired vehicles by road. After alighting from the vehicles, people are reaching their native villages as there are no arrangements to test them for Covid-19 on the highways.

In a bid to stop them, police will now increase patrolling on highways to check arrival of migrant workers by road. Check points and barriers will also be installed at borders of the district to check arrival of workers without being tested for coronavirus. Action will be taken against persons who will try to escape the test for Covid-19.

SP crime Ashutosh Mishra said action will be taken against such persons under the Epidemic Act. Awareness drives have been launched in rural areas and villagers are being asked not to allow entry of persons without being tested .