Villagers in Jind defy lockdown norms, Hisar locals join in
(Sourced from PTI)
A number of locals in a village in Haryana's Jind district on Wednesday allegedly defied COVID-19 lockdown norms with some of them marching through the streets and giving various reasons for their actions. The locals in Hisar also defied the norms due to several reasons including the violation of lockdown norms in the COVID-19 hospital inauguration in Hisar by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
The villagers said that they took the decision based on several grounds, including the inauguration of the COVID-19 hospital in Hisar on Sunday where they say COVID-19 norms were blatantly flouted. They also added that in the protest, several people were left injured during a clash with the police as farmers were stopped from marching toward the venue of the inauguration.
To protest against both the incidents, Hisar's Data village also appeared defiant and villagers on Wednesday announced to not obey the lockdown restrictions. The village panchayat held a meeting and decided to extend "non-cooperation" with the authorities and not to allow any health or police teams entry into the village.
Many had said they were upset with the policemen issuing challans to villagers riding bullock carts and going to their fields. Meanwhile, in Danoda village, after marching through the streets, villagers who were joined by some small shopkeepers held a dharna. Additionally, the villagers also blocked the Hisar-Chandigarh road for a while.
Addressing the dharna, many villagers claimed that when the Chief Minister went to inaugurate the COVID-19 hospital in Hisar there was a big gathering of people at the venue. "Why are COVID-19-related guidelines not enforced at such events?" asked a Danoda villager.
Another villager said when the government gives a plea that COVID-19 cases have increased and imposing lockdown is a must, then the Chief Minister too could have inaugurated the Hisar hospital through virtual mode. Another villager said the lockdown was causing financial loss to the small shopkeepers in their area. The villagers asked shopkeepers to open their shops too.
A police official, who reached the spot where the villagers were holding a dharna, appealed to them not to violate lockdown norms. He also pointed out to the gathering that only a few amongst them were wearing masks while most were not following social distancing norms. Later, when contacted, SHO (Sadar-Narwana) Raj Kumar said they persuaded the villagers not to defy the lockdown rules.
"We told them if they continue to do so, we will have to proceed and take action as per law. We made them understand that such acts could not only put their lives in danger but also endanger other people's lives too as the pandemic was still raging," the policeman said. Kumar said the villagers later agreed and said they would obey the norms.
