DC Rai Mahimapat Ray directed all police stations to ensure social distancing at fish markets and shops selling goat meat and chicken after receiving complaints of overcrowding at these outlets on Sunday with scant regard for safety on a day the capital saw its first death, and Jharkhand its second, from Covid-19.
“Carelessness in following social distancing norms can’t be tolerated,” the DC said. “It has come to my knowledge that a large number of people turned out to purchase fish and norms of social distancing were disobeyed. An order has been issued that FIRs will be lodged against people and sellers if they are found to violate social distancing norms.”
He added that police stations and officials of district administrations involved in ensuring the lockdown and social distancing have been instructed to take strong action against violators. “If people continue to be careless at a time of crisis, the law will take care of them,” the DC said.
Fish, meat and chicken shops are exempt from lockdown and can run for limited hours like any other grocery shop.
To ensure social distancing, the seller will have to mark circles for customers to stand to receive what they buy from a safe distance, one at a time. Sellers have to ensure they follow hand-washing or sanitisation norms and ensure the same to customers.
On Sunday, all marketplaces were crowded. At the Shalimar market in Dhurwa, one of the biggest fish markets of the capital, a number of people were seen jostling for fish.
Later, district officials identified all such spots where fish sellers operate their stalls, and officials marked circles for social distancing.
A resident of Morabadi, Navya, appreciated the administration’s efforts. “The administration alone can’t enforce lockdown and social distancing, it’s the responsibility of people too. If people are careless, the administration should take stern action against them. This is no time for leniency.”