Peoply defy lockdown at Ara for second successive days, 3 shop owners held

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara :  A large number of people did not stay at home in Bhojpur District for the second consecutive day on March 24, 2020, as lockdown remained by and large ineffective in the first half of the day on the second day in different parts of the district. They thronged vegetable markets, groceries, medical stores which are exempted from lockdown purview to stock up on essential items out of fear of shortage of foodgrins, medicine and edible items despite DM’s tassurance that these items are available in abundance.

Many youngsters were seen riding two-wheelers without any specific reason. Tea-stall, betel shops and some other shops at Ara were open since morning though the DM had ordered for the closures of all the tea- stalls, betel shops, business establishments, cinema halls, malls, restaurants, hotels except home delivery, auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaws, buses, trucks, motorcycles and others. Essential services including media are exempted from the closure.

The State Government had announced the lockdown on March 22, 2020, to combat COVID-19 pandemic. Bhojpur district administration has made elaborate arrangements to implement the lockdown. Bhojpur DM Roushan Kushwaha has cancelled leaves of every official and asked them to be ready for any emergency. Police force are deployed everywhere and announcement was made with loudspeaker asking  people to stay indoors and refrain from coming out without an urgent work. He and the SP Sushil Kumar themselves are monitoring the situation. Ara railway station is sealed and the DM appealed the people to stay at home to check spread of coronavirus. Persons coming from outside Bhojpur district are detained and are allowed to go home after test at the HNK School Quarantine Centre with a warning to stay at home isolation at least for 14 days.

Despite all these measure, auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaws, motorcycles, tractors and other four-wheelers were seen plying on almost all roads on March 23, 2020, and even on March 24. Heavy rush was noticed at vegetables markets and groceries in different parts of Bhojpur district. Reports of panic buying are pouring in from different parts of district. Youngsters are riding motorcycles aimlessly on roads defying lockdown. Though, cops are deputed at several points, they did not bother to stop commuters.

Taking advantage of lockdown, vegetable vendors with the intent of making extra buck, jacked up the prices of various vegetables though the DM had directed Ara Sadar SDO Arun Praksh to fix maximum prices of fruits and vegetables with a warning to take action against those selling vegetables exceeding the rate fixed.  The DM had also asked all the Block Development Officers (BDOs) through Video conferencing to strictly implement the lockdown in view of coronavirus menace. Bhojpur DM said that stern action would be taken against traders, businessmen, auto-rickshaw and e-rickshaw drivers violating the lockdown.

Ara SDO Arun Prkash said that police force and magistrates have been deployed at every point to ensure implementation of lockdown and prevent crowding at any place. Police and magistrates are patrolling round the clock. He said that stern legal action would be taken against the violators. He issued helpline numbers 06182-248010, 222002, 2220003, 2220004 and 222335to to facilitate people inform the district administration about corona related problems.

SHO, Nawada police station, Ara, Sunil Kumar said that three shops that were opened at Chandawa under the police station defying the lockdown were sealed and their owners arrested. He also said that four persons and 11 bike riders were arrested for defying lockdown and added that they were released after warning and imposing of fine on them.