dimapur bandh
Representative image.

The Nagaland government has ordered the closure of all shops and business establishments, except those dealing in services, with effect from Sunday midnight.

The order has been issued by the Nagaland government as a preventive measure to contain the spread of coronavirus.

In an order on Sunday, chief secretary Temjen Toy said except for pharmacies, petrol pumps, grocery shops selling food grains, food items, vegetables, daily use items, other essential commodities and media offices, all other business houses in the state will remain closed till further order.

The order said all government offices, both central and state, except district administration, police security forces, fire and emergency services, medical, home department, postal services and the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority will remain closed till further order.

Besides, the National Informatics Centre, power, public health engineering, food and civil supplies, finance, treasury and accounts, banks/ATMs, All India Radio and Doordarshan will also remain closed.

The state government asked all administrative heads of departments, heads of departments and heads of offices to form a core group officers/staff to attend to urgent and essential services.

It said all other government employees should be available on call.

All commercial passenger vehicles, both public and private, like buses, taxis, autorickshaws and two-wheeler taxis have been asked not to ply till further notice.

Vehicles carrying inter-state transit passengers will be allowed till midnight of Monday.

The government has also restricted movement, except those coming out of homes for procurement and distribution of essential commodities, availing essential services, medical facilities and other basic needs.

The order said all inter-state entry points will be sealed except for movement of essential commodities, security forces, medical equipment and supplies and goods vehicles transiting the state.

However, drivers and attendants of the vehicles transiting the state will be subject to screening as per laid down protocol, the order added.

Any person or group of persons acting in violation of the order will be deemed to have committed a punishable offence under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.

Bhadra Gogoi is Northeast Now Correspondent in Nagaland. He can be reached at: [email protected]