BSF working to contain COVID-infection spread among personnel across Tripura

AGARTALA: Even as 54 Border Security Force (BSF) men and eight family members in Tripura have tested coronavirus positive in the last five days, authorities are yet to identify the source of infection though they are working to ensure no further spread of the virus among the troopers.

"We are working round-the-clock to prevent further spread of the disease and to identify the primary and secondary sources of infection," said BSF's Tripura Frontier Deputy Inspector General CL Belwa.

Top BSF officials, including 138 Battalion BSF Commandant JK Singh, are taking action on a war-footing to identify the primary source of the dreaded disease.

The BSF authorities are also making ready their hospital at the Tripura Frontier Headquarters at Shalbagan, near here, to treat the COVID-infected BSF personnel.

Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who holds the Health and Home portfolios, has directed the Tripura Frontier Inspector General (IG) Soloman Yash Kumar Minz to submit the report of an inquiry initiated by the BSF after the outbreak of novel coronavirus in 138 BSF Battalion stationed in Ambassa (Dhalai district), 82 km north of State capital Agartala.

Education and Law Minister Ratal Lal Nath said that the State through Principal Secretary (Home) Barun Kumar Sahu had written to the BSF IG for the report along with details of the source of corona infection.

Nath, who is also the Tripura Government spokesman, said that so far 366 persons, including 80 doctors and health workers and 286 BSF jawans, had been identified for directly or indirectly coming in contact with the infected BSF troopers.

After a woman and a Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawan were cured and discharged from hospital, the north-eastern State was declared coronavirus free on April 25.

However, two BSF jawans -- including a Head Constable -- tested positive on May 2 at the 138 Battalion. Till late Wednesday night, the active corona cases were 62, including two women (wife and relative of the jawans), their five children and a mess worker.

Former BSF Tripura Frontier DIG Samir Kumar Mitra said on phone from Kolkata that authorities must undertake a massive campaign to make both BSF men and border residents aware of the measures to prevent coronavirus.

"The BSF troopers while patrolling must use hand sanitizers, face masks and other protective gears as they come in close contact with infiltrators from across the borders and Indian villagers staying on international borders," the former BSF official said. (IANS)