Even after completing quarantine, students ‘caged’ in Pulwama

PULWAMA — Over 20 students, who have completed their quarantine period, are not being discharged. According to these students, their only fault is that they wrote to Divisional Commissioner Kashmir complaining about lack of facilities in the quarantine centre and this action of theirs didn’t go well with the Health and Civil Administration.

The students said that they arrived in Valley from Gurgaon on May 15 and were kept at a quarantine centre in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. “When we complained about lack of facilities, we were shifted to PHC Koil. We are 22 students here and today, we completed our quarantine period but were not allowed to go home,” they said.

They said that doctors at quarantine centre informed us on Friday morning that they can call their parents as their quarantine period has come to an end. “Our parents waited for the whole day and during late hours, officials told us that we have to spend 10 more days in the quarantine centre,” students complained.

“We are all negative. Twice, our samples were taken and both the times, tests were found negative. Still we are being caged in this deserted building. Some of our fellow travelers who were quarantined at other places left for their homes today but we are still here,” students said.

When contacted, Medical Officer Dr Ajaz said that they had a detailed meeting with Deputy Commissioner Pulwama in which he was also present. “I informed Deputy Commissioner that quarantine period of these students is over. Even I told him that before shifting these students to Koil, they had spent a day in another quarantine centre. DC Sahib said that since these students have been quarantined in the new building on 16 May, they should be discharged on May 30,” he said.

Dr Ajaz further said that he has informed District Nodal Officer Pulwama about the matter and hopefully, they will be discharged tomorrow.