Villagers in Chakulia have taken up the responsibility of keeping a strict vigil on the entry points to Jharkhand from Bengal ever since two Covid-19 cases were detected in Chakulia last Tuesday.

Anirudh Pramanik, 45, a resident of Bendpur village in Chakulia bordering Bengal, used to work at a detergent factory before the lockdown. Now, he keeps a tight vigil at the Ghagra check post on Jharkhand-Bengal border to prevent people from sneaking into the state without proper screening.

Like Pramanik, over 15 residents of Bendpur village have been guarding the Ghagra and Bendpur check posts round-the-clock along with the cops since Tuesday.

“We know police and the district administration are doing a good job at the check posts, but we wanted to beef up the vigil to ensure that no one crosses over to Jharkhand without getting screened.

We are aware of the surge in coronavirus-positive cases in Bengal. If any infected person sneaks into Chakulia, we all will be in serious trouble,” a villager told The Telegraph.

Both Ghagra and Bendpur check posts are on the Bengal border in Chakulia block of Ghatshila sub-division in East Singhbhum distirct, around 100km from the steel city.

Circle officer of Chakulia block Arvind Ojha said there were about eight roads linking Chakulia to Bengal.

“However, police check post are on three roads only. The remaining five roads, which are very narrow, are being looked after by the villagers,” Ojha said.

Like Chakulia, Ghatshila and Baharagora blocks, also under Ghatshila subdivision, have roads leading to Bengal and the local villagers are devoting their time and energy at the entry points.