Coronavirus in India: Migrant labourers forced to take bath in 'disinfectant' upon their entry in Bareilly [Watch]
A shocking video of migrants being ‘disinfected’ has surface from Uttar Pradesh on a day the Supreme Court took up a plea seeking relief for the thousands walking to their native homes in the midst of 21 day lockdown.
The video was recorded in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district.
The batch of migrant workers in the video had arrived to UP over the weekend after special buses were organised for them. Among those watching the event are some policemen.
A Man can be heard saying in the video, "Apni ankhen band kar lo. Bacchon ki ankhen band kar lo (please shut your eyes, also close eyes of the kids)."
After the video gave way to criticism of the district administration, an official stated, "The migrants were sprayed with a mix of chlorine and water... No chemical solution was used. We asked them to keep their eyes shut."
"We did not mean to be inhuman... It was important to sanitise everyone and there was a huge rush as large number of people had returned. So we did what we thought was best," he added
While they dismiss dehumanizing the migrant workers and their families, the clip gives an impression that groups are being mass-sprayed.
The video was probed, Bareilly District Magistrate tweeted saying, "Under Chief Minister Office's supervision, those affected are being treated. The civic body and fire brigade team were asked to sanitise buses... but they did this because they were overzealous. Action has been initiated against officials concerned," he wrote.
Also Read: Coronavirus: Total confirmed cases in India above 1,190; death toll at 32
इस वीडियो की पड़ताल की गई, प्रभावित लोगों का सीएमओ के निर्देशन में उपचार किया जा रहा है। बरेली नगर निगम एवं फायर ब्रिगेड की टीम को बसों को सैनेटाइज़ करने के निर्देश थे, पर अति सक्रियता के चलते उन्होंने ऐसा कर दिया। सम्बंधित के विरुद्ध कार्रवाई के निर्देश दिए गए हैं। https://t.co/y8TmuCNyu5
— District Magistrate (@dmbareilly) March 30, 2020
Opposition leaders have hit out at the district administration, terming the act ‘inhuman’. "I appeal to the government in UP... all of us are fighting together against this crisis (coronavirus). Please don't indulge into such inhuman actions. The labourers have already suffered a lot. Don't spray chemicals on them. This won't protect them... rather it would harm their health," Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi tweeted.
In a chain of tweets, BSP chief Mayawati wrote, "During this stringent nationwide lockdown, numerous pictures have emerged of injustice from across the country... but spraying of disinfectants on migrants in Bareilly is an example of sheer cruelty, injustice. The government should pay attention immediately."
"It would have been better if the centre, instead of leaving these laborers stranded, without food and shelter, ran some special trains for them... to make things easy for them," she added.
Huge number of migrants were left stranded in different parts of the country following a 21 day lockdown announced by PM Modi last week in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The migrants crowded at the borders and at interstate bus depots, presenting an alarming picture at a time when social distancing is key to avert the rapid spread of Covid-19.
First published: 30 March 2020, 15:30 IST