Police lathi charged at Golbazar in Agartala after a standoff between police and buyers relating to Covid19 restrictions. Resentment among traders is brewing
Enewstime Desk
Agartala, April 29, 2020: Tripura Government has already made wearing masks mandatory and is strictly implementing social distancing to prevent transmission of coronavirus after the State has become a Covid019 free State. However, violating the Government directives, a section of people is venturing out without using face cover – moreover, people in different markets are jostling ignoring the Social distancing.
After appeal fell in deaf ears to maintain social distancing and wearing face masks, Police resorted to lathi charge in a vegetable market of Agaratala’s prime wholesale and retail market place – known as Maharaj Ganj Bazar popularly known as Golbazar -today. This created resentment among traders and they complained about Police highhandedness.
Tension prevailed at Golbazar in Agartala today over a standoff between the police and buyers relating to implementation of Covid19 restrictions. Reportedly, the police and TSR personnel present in the market resorted to a mild Lathi charge to ensure adherence to Covid19 restriction and lathi charge had left 4 to 5 persons with minor injuries.
Local sources said, the problem started when a section of the buyers and traders of MGM Bazar’s vegetable markets had been seen flouting the social distancing and wearing of masks restrictions.
The on-duty police officers requested the present people to maintain the restrictions in order to avert the COVID 19 chain but fallen deaf ears. The police later resorted to lathi charge and left 4 to 5 persons injured, said the source.
Sources in the police department said, the police and TSR men deployed at the market for monitoring have asked the buyers and the traders to use masks as per the government protocol.
After repeated attempts when the police observed that a section of the crowd was not maintaining the social distancing restrictions and flouting the norms, the on duty officer ordered a mild baton charge. Few people sustained injuries but each of them was discharged after a first aid, the sources added.
On the contrary, the local traders alleged that the police high-handedness resulted in the situation. “Some of the police officers started beating up people without any reasons. Many people have sustained serious injuries”, a vegetable trader told media.
Meanwhile, a highly placed police officer refuted the allegations and said that nobody was injured seriously. “Though, we will conduct an inquiry on the matter. We have already talked with the merchant association people regarding the issue” said the officer.
