South Tripura border check post reopened amid strong protests

AGARTALA: The Belonia-Mohurighat integrated check post reopened on Tuesday amid strong protests from locals.
With the state government allowing movement of goods vehicles between two countries, the Akhaura integrated check post had been reopened two weeks ago. But the decision to reopen the Belonia-Mohurighat integrated check post witnessed protests from local residents who fear that goods movement across the border may cause coronavirus to spread.
They blocked the road in protest and put up a human barricade at the entry point of the border. The protesters argued that areas on the other side of the check post, like Feni, Comilla and Brahmanbaria in Bangladesh, are corona-infected zones and the situation there is rapidly deteriorating.
"Areas across the border are thickly populated and very near to Belonia town. So, if import and export of goods is allowed through the check post, there is no guarantee that people here will not be infected," the villagers said.
"All precautions have been taken as per protocol and we have told the villagers that the decision was taken by the Centre," said a senior officer of South Tripura district administration.