Coronavirus: Bareilly DM Promises Action After Video Of Migrant Workers Being Sprayed With Disinfectant Goes Viral

Taking cognizance of a viral video showing disinfectant being sprayed on migrant workers, District Magistrate of Bareilly Nitish Kumar has promised action against the guilty persons. The DM also directed the chief medical officer (CMO) to provide medical treatment to people who were sprayed with sodium hypochlorite.

The district magistrate's reaction came hours after videos showed migrants including women and children were sprayed with disinfecting chemical by a team on sanitising duty at the Bareilly bus stand.

According to media reports, the incident took place in Bareilly and many of them complained of burning sensation in their eyes after the incident.

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The district magistrate, in a tweet, said that the fire brigade and Nagar Nigam personnel became over-zealous in their sanitization drive and sprayed the chemical on the people.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condemned the action in a tweet. "I appeal to the government in UP... all of us are fighting together against this crisis (coronavirus). Please don't indulge into such inhuman actions. The labourers have already suffered a lot. Don't spray chemicals on them. This won't protect them... rather it would harm their health," she wrote in Hindi, along with the clip.

यूपी सरकार से गुजारिश है कि हम सब मिलकर इस आपदा के खिलाफ लड़ रहे हैं लेकिन कृपा करके ऐसे अमानवीय काम मत करिए।

मजदूरों ने पहले से ही बहुत दुख झेल लिए हैं। उनको केमिकल डाल कर इस तरह नहलाइए मत। इससे उनका बचाव नहीं होगा बल्कि उनकी सेहत के लिए और खतरे पैदा हो जाएंगे। pic.twitter.com/ftovaFHR5q

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) March 30, 2020

The apex child rights body National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has demanded disciplinary and penal action against officials responsible for forcefully sanitising a group of migrants.

The NCPCR has asked the Bareilly District Magistrate to submit a report in the matter within three days.

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"NCPCR has expressed serious view on this inhuman act. In view of the above incident, you are requested to get the matter inquired into urgently and issue necessary directions for immediate action thereby; ensuring adequate arrangements of basic essentials to the family members viz. provision of food, shelter and safety and wellbeing of these children of migrant workers during lockdown period," according to the letter issued by the NCPCR.