The Phuentshogling Dungkhag Court, yesterday, sentenced a 47-year-old man from Pangnatoed (Pana A) under Samphelling Gewog in Chhukha to four years, 11 months and 29 days in prison for breaching the COVID-19 protocol along the border.
The man has crossed the border and spent a night in the neighbouring Indian village of Pana in August. It was his second time breaching the protocol.
On April 22 this year, the border patrolling team apprehended him for crossing the border. He was then kept in quarantine and RT-PCR test for COVID-19 was also done. Upon testing negative, police warned him of possible risks during these COVID-19 phases.
And again on 5th August, he crossed the border and spent a night in the neighbouring village of Pana in India.
In both cases, he crossed the border for alcohol.
The Royal Bhutan Police in Pasakha then charge-sheeted the case and forwarded it to the Dungkhag Court in Phuentshogling.
The neighbouring Indian village of Pana has over 500 households and Pangnatoed under Samphelling has less than 10 houses. Both the villages share open borders.
Pangnatoed is a few kilometres from Pasakha industrial estate.
Sonam Penjor
