Hindpiri, the containment zones in the state capital with the most number of Covid-19 cases in Jharkhand, is crying out for help as the third phase of the nationwide lockdown nears completion.

People in the crowded area of around 70,000 residents have complained of lack food and other basic items needed for their survival, especially during the ongoing holy month of Ramzan. Those who make any attempt to work, such as sell vegetables for example, are beaten up by authorities, residents have said.

Of 95 cases of Covid-19 infections that have surfaced so far from Ranchi, as many as 68 are from Hindpiri. Of them, two persons have died and 41 have recovered.

Human rights activist Naushad Khan told The Telegraph on Wednesday that the lockdown was worse than the novel coronavirus.

“People in Hindpiri feel suffocated as neither anyone is allowed to go out nor is anyone allowed to enter the area, even if he or she respects social distancing,” Khan said. “A man who tried to sell vegetables at Qurban Chowk in the locality on Tuesday was brutally assaulted by the CRPF personnel,” Khan added, sharing a video clip of the assault victim Md Shahzada and wife Ishrat Parveen.

In the clip, Ishrat is heard saying that the government so far has not given anything to her family, including children. “How can we keep our Roza (fast) like this,” she said.

Alleging acute mismanagement in the area, human rights activist Khan said: “The government should have tested every person during lockdown after the area was declared a containment zone. This did not happen. Instead, people are being harassed on the pretext of the lockdown.”

Ranchi SSP Anish Gupta expressed his ignorance about CRPF personnel beating up the vendor but admitted that many FIRs were being filed against Hindpiri residents for violating the lockdown. “The lockdown is the only way to help curb the spread of Covid-19. More than 50 FIRs have been filed at Hindpiri police station for lockdown violations against residents. The CRPF have been posted there. I do not have any idea of any assault,” SSP Gupta said.