The police personnel deputed at the Banderdewa checkgate near here have been left to fend for themselves against possible Covid-19 infection at a time students stranded outside Arunachal Pradesh in the lockdown are trooping in.

Sources said the policemen at the checkgate bordering Assam have been discharging their duties without adequate protective gears despite facing the risk of contracting the life-threatening viral infection.

“The personal protective equipment (PPE) issued to us two weeks ago have already been used and we have no more left at present,” the inspector-in-charge of Banderdewa police station, Gocham Tassa, said.

“We received 21 pieces of PPEs. Some of the police personnel used those for three to four days as we did not know that those were supposed to be used only once,” he said, adding that doctors had told him the PPEs were designed for one-time use.

“Our men are still carrying out their duties wearing face masks and gloves though they are at the risk of contracting the virus like the healthcare workers,” he said.

Denying reports of scarcity, Capital superintendent of police Tumme Amo said the PPEs were provided to Banderdewa police on Wednesday and Thursday. “The PPEs cost us Rs 1,500 each,” he said.

Amo said an additional 100 pieces had been issued by the police headquarters and kept in stock.

The director-general of police (DGP), R.P. Upadhyaya, said the 100 PPEs were procured from the police headquarters welfare fund. “The government gave us 1,000 pieces of PPEs initially and we procured another 1,000 from the welfare fund. Those are being distributed in all the districts. We now have another 500 in stock,” he said.

Tassa said he went to the police headquarters to collect the PPEs following a call from the SP, but managed to bring only a few as the official in-charge of the coveralls was not there. “I will go tomorrow to bring the rest,” he said.

Arunachal Pradesh, which falls in the green zone, has been witnessing massive reverse migration of stranded people since May 4.

Unique gesture

A visually challenged individual from Pasighat in East Siang district on Thursday handed over 350 face masks to the East Siang district administration for distribution among the needy.

Yatum Ete, who runs a small shop near the Pasighat bus stand, lost his vision many years ago.

Officials said Ete decided to donate the masks to help the East Siang administration after he came to know through radio programmes and news that wearing a mask was made mandatory to prevent the spread of coronavirus. “He donated the masks, saying use of mask is a great idea to reduce exposure to Covid-19 virus,” one of the officials said.

East Siang DIPR officer Deepali Dodum received the masks from Ete on behalf of the administration.

The Nehru Yuva Kendra, Pasighat, led by its district youth coordinator Tapun Taki, also gave 450 masks to the daily wage earners a few days back.

East Siang deputy commissioner Kinny Singh has appreciated the gestures of Ete, Taki and some other individuals and organisations.