Assam bandh total and peaceful in Dhemaji district
The main road in Dhemaji district. File photo - Northeast Now

The Dhemaji Police booked seven people for violating the norms of total lockdown on Wednesday.

On Wednesday morning, several LPG customers were standing in the queue in front of M/s Dhemaji Gas agency (Indane) near Dhemaji Charali ignoring the lockdown imposed by the district administration.

Most of the customers neither wore masks nor maintained physical distancing while queuing up.

The local administration on being informed about the violation of lockdown protocol at Dhemaji town later directed the gas agency to facilitate the home delivery of the LPG cylinders to the needy customers.

Despite the repeated announcements made from the district administration that shops and outlets of grocery and other essential items including medicines would be available during the lockdown period, people and retailers started to gather in the market places.

The markets at Dhemaji, Gogamukh, Silapathar, and Jonai under the district registered record footfall and sales as local residents went on a shopping spree of essentials ahead of the lockdown that began on Tuesday evening.

Apart from grocery shops, vegetable markets, pharmacies and other essential services other shops and business establishments are remaining close in the district and movement of private and passenger vehicles was off the town roads for the day.

The district administration has allowed the opening of grocery and other food stores from 10 am to 4 pm.

The administration seized 4 private cars and three motorbikes for failing to adhere to the government norms during the lockdown and have booked 7 violators.

Police have been engaged on the town roads to keep a check on unnecessary plying of vehicles and were seen requesting commuters to stay at home and put on masks.

The 21-day lockdown is a precautionary measure to prevent the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which is declared a pandemic in the country and abroad.

Prafulla Kaman is Northeast Now Correspondent in Dhemaji. He can be reached at: [email protected]