Restrictions for Kerala travellers invite public wrath at Talapady

With the rise in Covid-19 cases in neighbouring Kerala, the district administration has intensified the surveillance in border areas in the Dakshina Kannada district on Monday.

 As a part of the surveillance, the screening has commenced. The entry to the district is allowed only through four checkpoints— Talapady, Saradka, Nettanige Mudnoor, and Jalsoor and others have been closed. The Covid negative certificate is mandatory for those arriving in DK from Kerala. 

All the border roads except four have been closed for interstate travel since the morning. At the check post, officials from the health department, police and others are allowing only those with a negative report to enter the district. At Sullia, border routes at Batoli on Sullia-Panathur road, Kannadithodi on Sullia-Bandadka road, Mandekolu on Sullia-Adoor roads have been closed using barricades. Police personnel have been deployed for security. 

Read | Covid-19: No restrictions on inter-state travel, says Karnataka government 

Opposing the guidelines of district administration, Gadinadu Kannadigas staged a protest at the toll gate in Talapady. 

Protesters from Kerala warned of blocking the Mangaluru-Kerala National Highway if restrictions continued at Talapady. Kasaragod district panchayat standing committee chairman Arshad Vorkady said that restricting the movement of people and vehicles on interstate borders is a clear violation of the Centre's unlock notification.

“The Home Ministry in its unlock guidelines had clearly stated in January that there shall be no restrictions on interstate movement of people and vehicles. The protest will be intensified blocking the highway if the Karnataka government continues the travel restrictions on borders,” he said.

Read | Karnataka shuts borders with Kerala again over Covid-19 

A K M Ashraf, former block panchayat president of Kasaragod said DK DC and Kasargod District Collector should discuss the issue immediately. 

Meanwhile, BJP Kasaragod district president K Shreekanth also has appealed to chief minister B S Yediyurappa to lift the travel restrictions at the border.

“Whoever imposed the travel restriction, it is the people of Kasaragod who have suffered every time due to issues related to the job, medical treatment, education etc. I request @CMofKarnataka, @BSYBJP, @nalinkateel, @DCDK9 to involve and kindly lift travel restriction at the interstate border,” the BJP leader tweeted. #There is no lockdown imposed in both states, it's unfair to restrict ppl which impacts the daily life of the people of #Kasaragod,” he tweeted further.

Read | Tension at Kerala-Karnataka border over Covid-19 restrictions 

Meanwhile, the DYFI DK unit too urged the district administration to drop the decision of closing the border areas. The decision of the administration will have an impact on the people of Dakshina Kannada. 

On the other hand, public interest litigation has been filed in the High Court of Karnataka, opposing the restrictions.