Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Feb 23: Dakshina Kannada district administration has postponed by two days, its decision on mandatory production of coronavirus negative certificate not older than 72 hours for those who travel to Karnataka from Kerala. This decision was taken, taking into account the fact that the travellers need time to procure the certificate, said district health officer, Dr Ramachandra Bairy.
The administration had earlier through a release, banned entry of people into the district without negative coronavirus certificates. Officials of health and police departments had started checking the passengers coming into the district at Talapady, Jalsoor, Saradka, Nettanige Mudnoor and Menala entry points for certificates. When people coming from Kerala could not produce certificates, they were stopped, at which they protested. Students in particular were apprehensive. At one stage, vehicles going to Kerala from Karnataka were stopped at Talapady. When Ullal station house officer, Sandeep, tried to convince the protesters, the protesters shouted slogans asking Karnataka police to go back.
Representational image
Thereafter, Kerala police came there and convinced the protesters to withdraw the protest. Thereafter, the protesters said that if restrictions continue, they will stage a road blockade again. Kasargod zilla panchayat standing committee former chairman, Harshan Vorkady, said that this development was part of a political conspiracy.
BJP Kasargod district president, K Srikanth, urged the Karnataka government to withdraw the said condition. District health officials said that it is the responsibility of the principals of schools and colleges to inform the Kerala students of the need to bring corona negative certificates without fail.
In the meanwhile, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee secretary, B Subbayya Rai, has filed a petition in Karnataka high court, accusing Dakshina Kannada district administration of taking a decision that is not in consonance with the central government unlock rules. He said that the students are facing problems as their exams are drawing nearer.