BHUBANESWAR: Apprehending huge footfall of shoppers during the ensuing Raja festivity, the Odisha police have decided to launch a special drive to ensure proper compliance of the Covid appropriate behaviour in market places.
As Raja is synonymous with wearing of new clothes, the police have warned of strict action against garment stores if they open their shops during the festival.
“We request people to celebrate Raja with their family members inside their homes.
They should realize the severity and lethality of the Covid virus.
Violators would be taken to task,” additional director general of police (law and order) Yeshwant Jethwa said on Thursday.
At least 161 platoons of police force have been deployed across the state to carry out the enforcement activities in market areas.
Superintendents of police and range inspectors general and deputy inspector general of police have been asked to supervise the enforcement drives.
Special police deployment has been planned in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
“We noticed an unexpected crowd in fruit markets on Wednesday and Thursday for the Sabitri festival.
A number of violators were fined and shops sealed.
We will strengthen our enforcement ahead of Raja,” commissioner of police Saumendra Priyadarshi said.
The police commissioner said owners of the shops that violate Covid safety norms and encourage crowds would be arrested.
“We will not just seal their shops, but will also arrest them if they do not ensure compliance of social distancing,” Priyadarshi said.
Police sent a strong warning for those running garment stores.
“The government has so far not allowed functioning of the garment and cloth stores during the lockdown.
Only those shops selling essential commodities are allowed to open.
Garment stores come under the non-essential segment.
Since people purchase new dresses during Raja, we warn the garment stores not to open their shops,” deputy commissioner of police (Bhubaneswar) Umashankar Dash said.
Cuttack DCP Prateek Singh said special teams have been mobilized in market areas to crack the whip against the violators.
In the last two months, the Odisha police have collected Rs 14.58 crore in fines from around 4.76 violators across the state.
Over 3500 shops were sealed, 278 cases registered, 19,000 vehicles seized and 1332 persons were arrested for flouting the Covid-safety, lockdown and weekend shutdown norms in the last two months in the state.