By Lila Raj Jhapali, Birtamod, Sept 20: A red ribbon marks the sealing of a small community of indigenous Santhals in Ward 6 of Jhapa Gaunpalika. For the past four days, seven houses of the Santhal ethnicity have been restricted to go beyond the red ribbon.

Some local representatives and police officers had arrived at the settlement on Thursday to seal off the area by stretching a red ribbon, but since then, they have not contacted the settlement.

The settlement was sealed after a woman from Ward 6 who had recently been discharged from a hospital was tested positive for COVID-19; and on the basis of the report, she had roamed around the village.

“We have been told not to cross the red ribbon. We wouldn’t cross it happily but we are the families whose daily meal is based on daily wage and we don’t have a single grain of rice in the house. The children are starving,” said Chhotka Murmu, a local of the settlement.

As per Murmu, they have been warned of arrest if they leave the sealed-off area.

The seven families have 30 members and they used to manage daily meals either working as daily wage earners or by fishing.

“The authorities sealed off the village and never returned. The families have nothing to eat and are restricted to leave. They are in a terrible situation,” said Chhatra Bista, a local.

The locals also revealed that other than transporting five family members of the COVID-19 positive woman in Ward 6, authorities have collected samples of none as a part of contact tracing but were fast in sealing off the settlement.

“Earlier, the people of the Santhal settlement didn’t receive relief because it was received by families who could afford it. They have been starving for a long with difficulties in managing daily meals. But with the sealing of the village and no concern from authorities, their problems have further increased,” said Keshav Chapagain, another local of Ward 6.

With the days passing and authorities totally neglecting the settlements, the individuals fear of starvation more than COVID-19.

As per the locals, 30 members of the seven families have no idea of what to do.