Refrain from provoking returnees on social media: AAPSU

GUWAHATI: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) has taken strong exception to the reported stigmatisation and provocative posts on social media and other forums in the wake of the detection of a COVID-19 positive case from the stranded people who have returned to the state from New Delhi.

In a press statement issued on Monday, the union appealed to people in the state not to panic and refrain from sharing fake news as well as making provocative appeals against people who have returned to the state.

“There have been numerous instances in recent past with numerous sections taking everything into their hands like blocking roads, opposing quarantine facilities, obstructing doctors, police and other frontline workers from doing their duty. In doing so, they have been violating the lockdown guidelines. People should refrain from such antics and instead support the frontline workers in whichever way possible,” the union said in the statement.

Lauding frontline workers who have been working day and night to mitigate the corona crisis across the state, the union urged citizens to voluntarily and strictly follow the directives issued by the government and various agencies.

“It is the right of every Arunachalee to return to their homes during such times of distress and to tell them not to come back now will be very inhumane on our part. However, we would like to stress that the responsibility of proper testing and adequate quarantine facilities for the returnees lies with the state government,” it said.

“We would also remind the erring students and other returnees who have reportedly not been following home isolation measures strictly of their responsibilities towards their people and the state. We urge you all to be responsible and play your part as a responsible citizen. The state government should not hesitate to initiate necessary action against violators under Epidemics Act, 1897 and Disaster Management Act, 2005,” the union said.

AAPSU further urged the state government to conduct mass/random tests apart from ensuring proper segregation in the quarantine facilities. “This is a testing time and the entire state needs to work as a team to overcome the pandemic and its implications,” it added.