GUWAHATI: The Assam Rifles has accused Mizoram government of violating the Centre's directions pertaining to COVIDd-19 protocol by allegedly denying the entry of troops into the state.
"The Mizoram government’s denial of entry to armed forces into the state clearly violates the directions of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) which has serious implication for national security and is a cause of grave concern. It is not acceptable as the people of Mizoram fear Myanmarese nationals will cross over and spread the virus of COVID-19," the Assam Rifles said in a statement on Friday.
The statement comes following Mizoram government’s charge that a team of Assam Rifles personnel had breached its COVID-19 protocol by refusing to undergo screening at the Vairangte check gate on the Assam-Mizoram border.
The Assam Rifles said the guidelines issued by the MHA during the imposition of nationwide lockdown had given exemptions to defence and central armed police forces. It said that the restrictions imposed by the Mizoram government on the operational movement of the personnel were seriously hampering the smooth functioning of the force, primarily border-guarding.
"The Assam Rifles has not caused any community spread of COVID-19 in the state and has been managing its patients at its own quarantine centre. It has not also caused any burden or dependency on the state government. However, there has been a continuous violation/dilution of orders of the MHA by the state government by restricting the entry of armed forces into the state which is not happening in any other part of the country," the Assam Rifles said.
It said the state government had been approached numerous times and requested to pass suitable instructions at all entry points to allow the movement of armed forces, unobstructed.
"The Assam Rifles has always assured the state government that all its personnel, entering the state, will be put through the mandatory COVID-19 quarantine protocol under the arrangements of the force. Also, the Assam Rifles has never refused any medical test by state medical authorities and in this particular incident, the Assam Rifles personnel were not asked to undergo any medical test," the statement added.
The paramilitary forces make up around 40 per cent of Mizoram's COVID cases. Last month, the state’s lone Lok Sabha member C Lalrosanga had petitioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking restrictions on the movement of troops in the state.