Odisha Govt Warns Strongest Action Against Lockdown Violators

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of sudden spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the State, the Odisha Government has decided to take strongest possible action against people who refuse to comply social distancing norms during the lockdown period.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has very categorically instructed the Police Department not to show any leniency towards lockdown violators and take immediate and exemplary action against them.

ସାମାଜିକ ଦୂରତା ଉଲ୍ଲଂଘନକାରୀଙ୍କ ବିରୋଧରେ ଶୂନ୍ୟ ସହିଷ୍ଣୁତା ନୀତି ଗ୍ରହଣ କରାଯିବ। ସାମାଜିକ ଦୂରତା ଉଲ୍ଲଂଘନ ଏକ ଅପରାଧିକ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକଳାପ ଭାବେ ଗ୍ରହଣ ହେବ। ସମ୍ପୃକ୍ତ ଦୋକାନ/ବଜାରକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ସିଲ୍ କରାଯିବ। ବିନୀତ ଅନୁରୋଧ କରୋନା ବିରୋଧି ଏହି ଲଢେଇରେ ସହଯୋଗ କରନ୍ତୁ।#OdishaFightsCorona https://t.co/h669icL2wX

— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) April 5, 2020

Reiterating that the social distancing is one of the weapons to contain further transmission of the Coronavirus, the Government reportedly ordered the State Police to use lathis on the people who don’t understand the seriousness of the situation.

Government has also instructed the District Collectors to forcefully implement the COVID-19 guidelines and take stringent action if there are any lapses. “There will be zero tolerance on violation of social distancing. Any violation of social distancing will attract criminal action”, the CM said.

He also urged the people not to venture out and respect lockdown. Police will take very tough action on violators, he added.

Meanwhile, twin cities Commissioner of Police, Dr Sudhansu Sarangi has warned people against taking vehicles for marketing or going near to purchase grocery. People have to walk down from their houses to purchase vegetables, grocery, medicines etc. Any violation of this order will lead to confiscation of the vehicle and action against the people involved. He tweeted “Any vehicle reaching any market with or without vehicle pass will be seized.”

He also appealed people to please to call 100 in case of any emergency. The State Government has now very clearly ordered the Police not to entertain silly excuses of the violators.

License of shopkeepers to be seized for disobeying social distance norms.

It’s the responsibility of the shopkeepers or store owners to oversee that their consumers maintain social distancing in their shops while purchasing goods. The shopkeepers have been asked to put permanent circle or square marks outside the premises distancing about two meters. If any discrepancy is noticed in maintaining social distancing the shopkeepers will lose their trading license.