Entire Silchar can be on the streets on Mahalaya going by ‘only 3’ formula!
৩ জন করে গোটা শিলচরই যে বেরোতে পারে মহালয়ার ভোরে!

Sept. 15: Imagine a situation, where 3 persons each from every family comes out on the streets of Silchar during Mahalaya. That would amount to a huge crowd moving around and thus in this way, people from every house can be seen on the streets taking advantage of the loopholes in the executive order issued in this connection on Tuesday. Such an unwanted situation would further the spread of the deadly virus!

Keeping in view, the upcoming festivities in connection with Mahalaya and Biswakarma Puja on Thursday, the Cachar district administration has imposed certain restrictions. In an order issued to this effect here on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner cum Chairperson, District Disaster Management Authority, Keerthi Jalli, stated that movement of more than three persons in a group on the roads on Mahalaya morning is restricted. Assembling of crowd at any place will not be allowed. However, people can move on the roads in small groups comprising maximum three persons. Wearing of masks and maintaining physical distancing have been made mandatory on both the occasions.

Moreover, by restricting entry on both the bridges (old and new) located at Sadarghat from from 9:00 PM of 16 September till 6:00 AM of 18 September will invite inconvenience for those commuters who needs to go out for reasons other than merry-making or roaming. So what could have been the plausible way out? Reacting to this, a retired school Principal said, “I have passed around 65 years of my life in Silchar. What I would suggest is that the most adequate step would have been a 6-hour curfew during Mahalaya from 5 AM to 11 AM. In such a scenario, there would be no necessity of imposing restrictions even on the two bridges at Sadarghat for such a long period of time.”

Another college student, Surajit Baidya said, “I will abide by the order of the administration and put on face mask and go out with 2 of my close friends in the morning during Mahalaya. But how can I as an individual take the guarantee that other people will also not come out in groups of three at the same time when I will be there in the street? The order which states “people can move on the roads in small groups comprising maximum three persons” seems to have serious loopholes and subject to interpretation.”

An owner of a sweet shop in New Silchar area too expressed doubt about the provisions of the order issued in connection with Mahalaya on Tuesday. He said, “I saw the order issued by DC Madam in one of the news portals today evening. What I was wondering was that who would sit with a timer to find out when and in which part of the town there will be a crowd. Most of us have now nuclear families. So if every family in Silchar feels that I’ll go out with my wife and my child wearing face mask, then what will happen! I wonder, this would result in chaos and confusion. Rather, imposition of curfew for some few hours in the morning of Mahalaya would have been a better alternative.”