Bengal villagers take up policing as migrants return from other states

Few days back, nearly seven migrant labourers quarantined themselves since they arrived in their village on March 25 from Chennai

On March 23,  when Tapan Biswas, who works as a mason in Kerala, came back to his home at Madarihat in north Bengal's Alipurduar, his neighbours were swift to inform the police about his arrival. However, for five days, Biswas was not traceable while police, local Panchayat members and neighbours kept looking for him. Biswas says he was hiding at his home as he was petrified by the prospect of being taken away by police for a health check up. Nevertheless, Biswas was screened for Covid-19 and let go after being asked to stay in isolation for two weeks. However,