Lapses alleged

IMPHAL, May 24: Alleging lapses in management of evacuation processes, AMMSO (All Manipur Muslim Students' Organisation) and six other student bodies have appealed the Government to take immediate corrective measures so that no one from Manipur is left behind in other States amidst the COVID-19 lockdown.
More than 200 Manipuri Muslim students, who had the tickets and required documents were denied boarding and left stranded at a train station in Gujarat yesterday, contended the student bodies.
It may be noted that videos of those left behind in Gujarat pleading for evacuation and alleged empty coaches of train leaving for Jiribam, are doing the rounds on Facebook and other social media sites.
The Muslim students who are studying in different Madrassas in Bharuch district in Gujarat had the tickets and they were waiting to board the train after verification. But,  they were denied boarding and left stranded at the station, said AMMSO in a statement accusing authorities concerned of being biased in the evacuation process.
"This is not the first time that such an incident has occurred, earlier the stranded Manipuri Muslims in Bharuch district were not included in the list of evacuees," said AMMSO adding it suspects "the incidents are driven by Islamophobia."
Asking who should be held responsible for the incident, AMMSO said that the Government must clarify over the issue and arrange for evacuation of the Manipuri Muslims stranded in Gujarat. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) should be set up to investigate the incidents, added AMMSO.
Further, AMMSO will be inspecting and monitoring the functioning of the community quarantine centres, it said urging authorities concerned and Government to provide all safety kits and equipment needed in the centres.
Meanwhile, six student bodies-Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup (AIMS), All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF) and Students Union of Kangleipak (SUK), in a joint statement also claimed that many State natives in Gujarat who were included in the list of evacuees were denied the chance to board the Shramik special train to Jiribam yesterday.
The student bodies asserted that the people who were denied the evacuation yesterday are now left stranded and many of them are unable to go back to their rented rooms. In the hope of being evacuated, they had left their rented rooms and packed all their belongings. As they were left stranded at the station, they are facing immense difficulties with many having no place to stay, claimed the student bodies adding similar situation had also happened in the past in Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore.
Seeking corrective measures to avoid such lapses in evacuation processes in future, the student bodies asked the State Government for special arrangement to bring back those who are left behind in Gujarat and other cities.
The student bodies also took note that truckers who are engaged in essential services and ferrying stranded people are being stigmatised by many. Citing reports that the drivers/handymen and passengers are constantly facing verbal and physical assaults on National Highways, the student bodies said such acts are uncalled for when they (truckers/drivers/handymen) are in the front ferrying/delivering essential commodities facing COVID-19. Also condemning that many shops and vehicle workshops along the National Highways are "denying" service to them, the student bodies appealed all to cooperate and not stigmatise them.
The student bodies also lauded volunteers, health staff, returnees (inmates) and all concerned who are engaged in maintenance of community quarantine centre for their dedication and efforts in containing the virus. Stating that "it is because of the inmates and volunteers that COVID-19 has not spread to the community," the bodies appreciated the measures being taken up by the volunteers and inmates. To continue avoid community spread/outbreak from the quarantine centres, the inmates should be sensitised, encouraged, motivated to instil/strengthen their sense of Nationalism and love for the society and State, said the bodies encouraging all COVID-19 patients to continue fight against the virus and prevail.
The bodies further appealed Government to procure more testing kits and enhance the number of tests.
Other organisations including DAMMS (Delhi Association of Manipur Muslim Students) also condemned the Gujarat incident and sought steps to evacuate them at the earliest.