ANI Administration Needs to Stop Suppressing Voices Raising Genuine Concerns

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PS Aberdeen Registers FIR Against Youth Volunteers for Raising Voice Against Mismanagement at GB Pant

Port Blair, Aug 25: The Police Station, Aberdeen on 24th August 2020 registered an FIR against three youth volunteers who have been involved in social service by risking their lives during the challenging times of the on-going pandemic. The three youths against who the FIR Number: 0316 dated 24/08/2020 was registered are M.A Sajid, Social Worker and Youth Volunteer of Fight for Islander’s Issues, Tanmay Mallick, Social Worker and Youth Volunteer of Fight for Islander’s Issues and Tarun Karthick, Editor, Nico News (Online News Platform, Registered News Page on Facebook), Director, Nico Technologies and Travel Solutions Private Limited.

A case Under Section 186/188 IPC read with Section 51 DM Act 2005 has also been chalked against the youths. 

On 24th August 2020, MA Sajid had received a call from the attenders of patients admitted at the New Medical Ward – II of GB Pant, Hospital. The call was regarding the fear of spreading the COVID-19 virus as the covid positive patients were kept alongside the regular patients. The test results of the COVID positive patients were received in the morning hours on 24th August but they weren’t segregated, in spite of the danger of contracting the virus looming large on the other inmates of the ward.

In an interview with Andaman Chronicle, the youth volunteers said, “Upon the complaints being received, MA Sajid and Tanmay Mallick had approached the authorities requesting them to shift the positive cases. Tanmay had also called up the Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman and the Secretary (Health), A&N Administration and the Medical Superintendent of GB Pant Hospital but the efforts were in vain”.

Having noticed no action on the request made, Nico opted for a LIVE broadcast on Facebook outside the New Medical Ward –II, late in the evening. The volunteers claim that it was the result of the LIVE broadcast that the concerned authorities cared to segregate and shift the positive patients.

“GB Pant has become a hub of COVID-19 community transmission”, said the youth volunteers stating that they would like to sincerely call upon the A&N Authorities to help the patients heal by taking prompt action.

Soon after the LIVE broadcast, Tanmay Mallick, M.A Sajid and Tarun Karthick were summoned at PS Aberdeen for questioning and the FIR and Case was registered against them.

“This is an attack on the free media and the youth who are contributing to the society during the COVID-19 pandemic time and who are fighting for reforms in the system to fight COVID-19 in a better way”, the volunteers echoed.

The youth volunteers against whom charges have been framed have been involved in: 

  1. Installation of Full Body Sanitisation Tunnel at G.B Pant Hospital, Port Blair.
  2. Distribution of Masks and Sanitizers to on Duty Police and other staff involved on duty in Public Places and at Containment Zones Gates.
  3. Sanitisation of areas around the public places, where police and other officials are posted for duty for COVID-19.
  4. Distribution of Ration kits and other essentials to the needy families inside and outside containment zones on a daily basis.
  5. Distribution of cooked food packets to the needy homeless people living on streets of Port Blair.

In a time when the A&N Islands is going through a terrible crisis owing to the surge in COVID-19 cases, there is a real need to encourage volunteers especially the youths, who can help reach the people who are in real need. Registering FIRs and Cases by the A&N Police will be nothing but projecting the A&N Administration in a bad light, as has been the case earlier when Zubair Ahmed, an Island based journalist was was detained overnight at the Police Station for questioning the authorities on twitter.

There is no doubt that the Andaman & Nicobar Administration of late has been trying to set right things. But then it is expected that the concerned authorities would realize that suppressing free voices of citizens will do more harm to the society, which is already dealing with crisis.