The district administration here started deployment of CRPF personnel at Hindpiri in the state capital on Tuesday, a day after chief minister Hemant Soren expressed displeasure over some residents moving out of the locality despite it being sealed as a Covid-19 containment zone.
Ranchi deputy commissioner (DC) Rai Mahimapat Ray held a high-level meeting at Aryabhata auditorium of Ranchi University along with senior superintendent of police (SSP) Anish Gupta, sub-divisional officer Lokesh Mishra and other officials.
Later, the DC told media personnel that 15 containment zones have been identified out of which Hindpiri is the biggest with 62 confirmed cases directly associated with the locality. Of the other 14 zones only one, Bero, is not in the capital city.
Across Ranchi, 75 positive cases have been found till Monday.
“If you analyse the pattern of spread of coronavirus virus in Ranchi you will find five sources, Hindpiri, the Tablighi Jamaat (attendees), and three types of contamination that we are investigating. A person in Bundu had come from outside Jharkhand and he was found positive. In another case, a technician who had come home after performing last rites of his father tested positive. An elderly person with mental disorder lodged at RIMS was also found positive and we are investigating his contact history,” DC Ray said.
“Now we are planning to declare buffer zones,” he said. “Buffer zones will be those areas which are situated close to contamination zones. While there will be complete lockdown in contamination zones there will be certain restrictions on opening of shops and other activities in buffer zones also. Hindpiri will remain under control of the CRPF and deployment is being done.”
He said that so far more than 6,980 persons have been put in home quarantine across Ranchi and frequency of novel coronavirus tests has been increased. The DC explained that they have not been placed under institutional quarantine because chance of contamination is less in case of home quarantine.
“For instance we had converted a hotels as a quarantine centre for health staff. They were provided separate rooms but the purpose was not served and one of them was found positive. We have 15 shelter homes for people who are stranded,” the DC said.
In Ranchi so far, 2,653 people have been tested and in the last three days 940 tests have been done. The results are awaited.
Ranchi SSP Gupta said that all entry and exist routes of Hindpiri have been sealed.
“We have already installed CCTV cameras at strategic locations of Hindpiri. Wherever we get complaint of violation of lockdown legal action is taken. They can be punished by the court with up to five years of jail. I have seen how some people are mocking the lockdown. Essential items like food and medicines are being supplied contaminated zones,” he said.
The district administration has sealed 28 exit and entry points and CCTV cameras have been installed at check posts.