Budaun DM orders NSA against two village pradhans for defying administration

BAREILLY: Budaun district magistrate on Saturday ordered slapping of the National Security Act (NSA) against pradhans of two villages for allegedly not cooperating with the district administration in containing the spread of novel coronavirus and sharing misleading information. The DM also seized their powers.
The action has been ordered against the pradhans of Bhawanipur Khalli and Bhawanipur Kheru villages, which are situated under Sahaswan sub-division of Budaun district.
DM Kumar Prashant said, “Sahaswan area in Budaun was declared a hotspot after the first case of Covid-19 was reported here on Monday. The entire area was sanitised, too. However, the village heads of Bhawanipur Khalli and Bhawanipur Kheru did not make quarantine facilities in their respective areas despite the district administration’s order. When we were converting a school into a quarantine centre, they created hindrance by asking their supporters to pelt stones here. Besides, they did not share information about migrant workers who returned to their villages from other districts or states. They shared misleading information with the district administration.”
“I have seized the power of the two village heads and the charges of both Bhawanipur Khalli and Bhawanipur Kheru villages have been handed over to their respective village secretaries. Besides, I have asked police to register an FIR against the duo under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Epidemic Act. I have also ordered slapping of the NSA against both village heads,” the DM added.