Imphal, Jun 9 (PTI) Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday strongly warned that any inmates at quarantine centres disobeying Covid-19 protocols will be imprisoned under National Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Sajiwa Central Jail has been designated for keeping those in the quarantine centres caught violating rules, Biren told reporters.

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The CM was on a visit to a school at Meitram area where a covid care centre will be inaugurated Wednesday.

The chief minister said, "they (some staying in quarantine centres) don't maintain discipline, protocols and we cannot monitor them 24X7".

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The disregard of such essentialities have led to the rise of COVID-19 cases in the state despite the government trying extremely hard to contain the disease, he said.

The strict warning came in the backdrop of a few recent incidents at different quarantine centres in Thoubal and Churachandpur districts, where inmates were seen in groups arguing with personnel guarding the centres and making fun.

The state which was declared coronavirus-free on April 19 last, witnessed a surge of new active cases from May 14 onwards after batches of migrant workers started returning to the state.

Manipur currently has a total of 282 positive patients with 218 active cases as 64 have recovered.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)