Controversy erupts as video of migrants sprayed with disinfectants goes viral

A shocking video of  migrants being "disinfected" has emerged from Uttar Pradesh on a day the Supreme Court took up a petition seeking relief for the thousands walking to their home states amid the 21-day lockdown. The video was filmed in Bareilly district - about 270 km from Lucknow. The batch of migrants in the video had returned to UP over the weekend after special buses were arranged for them. Among those watching the "disinfecting" are some policemen.

After the clip led to criticism of the district administration, an official said: "The migrants were sprayed with a mix of chlorine and water... No chemical solution was used. We asked them to keep their eyes shut." He added: "We did not mean to be inhuman... It was important to sanitise everyone and there was a huge rush as large number of people had returned. So we did what we thought was best."

The clip was investigated, Bareilly District Magistrate said in a tweet. "Under Chief Minister's Office's supervision, those affected are being treated. The civic body and fire brigade team were asked to sanitise buses... but they did this because they were overzealous. Action has been initiated against officials concerned," he wrote. Opposition leaders have attacked the district administration over the clip, calling the action "inhuman". In a series of tweets, former UP chief minister and BSP chief Mayawati wrote: "During this stringent nationwide lockdown, numerous pictures have emerged of injustice from across the country... but spraying of disinfectants on migrants in Bareilly is an example of sheer cruelty, injustice. The government should pay attention immediately."

1. देश में जारी जबर्दस्त लाॅकडाउन के दौरान जनउपेक्षा व जुल्म-ज्यादती की अनेकों तस्वीरें मीडिया में आम हैं परन्तु प्रवासी मजदूरों पर यूपी के बरेली में कीटनााशक दवा का छिड़काव करके उन्हें दण्डित करना क्रूरता व अमानीवयता है जिसकी जितनी भी निन्दा की जाए कम है। सरकार तुरन्त ध्यान दे।

— Mayawati (@Mayawati) March 30, 2020

इस वीडियो की पड़ताल की गई, प्रभावित लोगों का सीएमओ के निर्देशन में उपचार किया जा रहा है। बरेली नगर निगम एवं फायर ब्रिगेड की टीम को बसों को सैनेटाइज़ करने के निर्देश थे, पर अति सक्रियता के चलते उन्होंने ऐसा कर दिया। सम्बंधित के विरुद्ध कार्रवाई के निर्देश दिए गए हैं। https://t.co/y8TmuCNyu5

— District Magistrate (@dmbareilly) March 30, 2020