Paramilitary forces to be deployed in Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had a telecon with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar last night regarding the situation in the state arising out of the pandemic Coronavirus. Mr Modi first rang up Ms Banerjee, followed by Mr Shah and Mr Jaishankar.

In the interaction, it is informed from reliable sources, that deployment of paramilitary forces in the state was under serious consideration to control the situation since Bengal shares international borders with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. It's also informed that Mr Jaishankar had been assigned the charge of Bengal.

West Bengal has now ten Covid-19 positive cases, of which nine people have been undergoing treatment at ID Hospital and one in a private hospital. A 57-year-old man died of Coronavirus.

Last night, five members of a family, including a 9-month-old baby girl, all residents of Nadia district, have been in the suspected list of being affected with Coronavirus and they were kept in home isolation in West Bengal.

Meanwhile, Ms Banerjee on Friday said those spreading false information and rumours regarding the current situation will be severely punished. She said, " This is no time for jokes and fake news. " She announced two months’ advance allowance will be given to widows as well as to the beneficiaries of other social schemes.

Ms Banerjee said constant reviews of the situation are taking place, and the public will be updated.

“We will again review the situation on March 30 and decide on further action to be taken. The Centre has already announced lockdown till April 14,” the chief minister said.

Ms Banerjee said doctors and health workers working on the frontline cannot be obstructed in any way. The police have done good work – transporting pregnant women, donating blood, etc. However, there have been some bad incidents too. People going errands have been stopped; this should not have happened. Also, essential duty workers must be allowed to travel, she said.

Ms Banerjee said diagnostic laboratories have now been opened in north Bengal to facilitate the testing of people from that region. “As in urban areas, people in the rural areas too, please maintain distance while going to and standing in markets,” she said. “We must contain the infection from spreading; keeping distance between ourselves is a must,” the chief minister said.Ms Banerjee said samples will be tested at NBMCH from now on.

“I thank all the religious leaders for instructing their followers to stay at home,” she said.

The chief minister said the small scale industry in Bengal is supplying hand sanitiser at the rate of 10,000 litres per day.

“The Maharashtra Government has responded to my appeal with help for the workers from our State; many other States have also responded to my appeal,” Ms Banerjee said.

“The workers in Posta Bazaar are being taken care of. I have spoken to the chamber of commerce there to help them out,” she said.

The chief minister said home delivery of essential commodities will be allowed and it is being facilitated, adding dedicated volunteers for such work can contact us online; they will be paid Rs 250 per day.

Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday urged all religious leaders to use their influence to inspire people to pray from home.

Mr Dhankhar said, “During video conferencing with the President/VP, I focused on observance of social distancing and need to avoid religious congregations. No religious congregations are allowed as per directives. I urge all religious leaders to use their influence to inspire people to pray from home."