Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 26: With two more deaths and 120 fresh positive cases during the past 24 hours in the Union Territory of Ladakh, its capital Leh is emerging as a Covid hotspot with the arrival of a large number of non-local labourers on fake Covid negative reports, issued by doctors of their respective states.
Out of the total 120 positive reported during the last 24 hours, 104 cases were reported from Leh only, and the remaining 16 positive samples of Covid patients were received from Kargil. With two more deaths, total fatalities in Ladakh reached 138, out of which 94 were reported from Leh and 44 from Kargil. The total number of COVID-19 active cases in UT Ladakh has surged to 2,027 including 1,926 in Leh district and 101 in Kargil district.
After detecting that non-local labourers entering Ladakh with fake RT-PCR negative reports, authorities, two days ago, have banned the entry of non-local labourers in the Union Territory of Ladakh. The non-local workers have managed these fake negative reports from their native places to enter Ladakh without mandatory Covid tests at different entry points. Already Leh Police has registered an FIR against one doctor of Dumka, Jharkhand under section 420, 468 IPC for providing fake RT-PCR negative reports in favour of many of these labourers entering Leh.
Chief Executive Councilor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh, Tashi Gyalson, has directed the concerned officials to restrict the induction of non-local labourers for the time being until further notification. He has also asked the officials to manage with the existing labourers by providing proper Covid testing facilities and basic requirements at their concerned quarantine centres.
Since RT-PCR negative report is mandatory for those coming to Leh, many labourers have managed fake reports to enter Ladakh without any testing. These fake Covid negative reports have added to the woes of the authorities engaged in ensuring 100 per cent testing of all travelers coming to Ladakh.
Now the officials have decided to monitor all negative RT-PCR reports at all the entry points. It was decided to deport offenders immediately from the entry points and register FIR against those furnishing fake RT-PCR reports. |
