Chief minister Hemant Soren has made a fervent appeal to the faithful to stay indoors and offer prayers in their own houses as Muslims across the country began observing Ramzan under an unprecedented coronavirus-induced lockdown on Friday.

Ensuring a peaceful month-long festival in the middle of the pandemic has come as a huge challenge for the Ranchi district administration and police with the emergence of densely populated Hindpiri in the city capital as a coronavirus hotspot.

Of the total 36 coronavirus-positive cases in Ranchi till Thursday night, 33 were reported from Hindpiri alone.

Two patients of the locality have also died.

Bero is also emerging as a cause for concern for the administration.

Jharkhand chief secretary Sukhdev Singh said directives regarding the festival had been sent to all district administration and police.

“Any kind of mass gathering and mass prayer has been prohibited. People can offer prayer at their own houses. Social distance will have to be maintained during the lockdown period. We have spoken to intellectuals and clerics of the community and they have agreed to this,” the chief secretary said.

The Ranchi district admin–istration has made elaborate arrangements for the residents of Hindpiri, which has been declared a containment zone.

“Home delivery of food grains and other essential items are being done on a priority basis at Hindpiri. The festival period will witness huge consumption of fruits, dry fruits and other essential items. We will ensure uninterrupted supply to households that place orders. But under no condition will the lockdown be relaxed across the district. People will not be allowed to come out of their houses,” said Ranchi deputy commissioner (DC) Rai Mahimapat Ray.

The district administration has tightened security in Hindpiri and installed CCTV cameras to keep track of the movement of people in the locality following complaints of lockdown violations.

Yoga teacher Rafia Naaz, a resident of Doranda, said her family would observe Ramzan at home.“I am reciting the Holy Quran inside my home. We will not step out,” she said.