COVID-19 Checkpost at Talapady: Protest erupts at the border

Team Udayavani, Feb 22, 2021, 3:22 PM IST

Talapady: As the number of positive COVID-19 cases has increased in Kerala, Health officials in Talapady have set up checkpoints at the border, from February 21 for screening commuters entering Karnataka.

According to the fresh guidelines people who don’t carry RTPCR tests won’t be allowed inside Karnataka.

Following this, the citizens living at the border protested by stopping the vehicles from Mangaluru to cross the border.

As the vehicles from Kerala are not allowed to cross without RTPCR test, the citizens living on the borders protested seeking the same for vehicles from Mangaluru.

The protestors raised slogans against Chief Minister Yediyurappa and even slept on the roads as a means of protest.

When Sandeep S and other police officers from Ullal tried to clear the road, the protestors screamed, ” Karnataka police go back.” As the protest continued for one hour, even Manjeshwara police came in for security reasons.

Arun Das, Sub Inspector, who spoke to the protestors convinced them that he’d talk to the Kasaragod District administration.

The protestors even warned that if this continues, the protest shall continue the day after also.

Talking about the Central government’s guidelines, Harshaad Varkad, President of Zilla Panchayat standing committee in Kasargod said, ” As per the guidelines issued by the central government, no vehicle is restricted from crossing the border. ”

He further added that the state government wasn’t following the center’s guidelines. He also informed that the current rules regarding RTPCR tests weren’t applicable during Uttar Pradesh’s CM Yogi Adityanath’s visit.