19 shops sealed for operating business during lockdown

Aurangabad, May 8:

Sensation prevailed after a video clip showing 30-40 customers entering a shop, situated at a distance of stone's throw from City Chowk police station during the lockdown period, got viral on social media. Taking cognizance of the violation the shop inspector's squad with the help of Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has sealed 19 shops situated in City Chowk, Shahgunj, Gulmandi, Tilak Path, Paithan Gate, etc till the end of the Covid-19 situation. The squad will be taking action against 40 more shops tomorrow, it is learnt.

As reported earlier, the private establishments are not allowed to open during the curfew and lockdown period due to the Covid-19 situation. However, the police administration came to know that many shops in the jurisdictions of City Chowk police station and Kranti Chowk police station are operating their business by allowing entry to customers from the rear side of their shops. City Chowk police then registered cases against 57 shopkeepers. Besides, the police were also alerting the shopkeepers through announcements that their establishments would be sealed if they are found violating the order. However, the alert was not being taken seriously. As a result, the police sent a list of irresponsible 57 shopkeepers to the deputy commissioner (labour) on May 6 and 7 for action.

Many shopkeepers (situated on road extending from Shahgunj to City Chowk) would partially open the shops (by lifting shutter to a height) and were doing business without fear from 6 am to 9 am and 2 pm to 5 pm as the police would not patrol during these timings.

It so happened that the video clip of Honesty Cloth Store got viral on social media today morning. Accordingly, the rumours started spreading that the shop is open with the blessings of the City Chowk police station. Taking serious cognizance of the video, the district collector ordered the commissioner of police, deputy commissioner of police, and others to take immediate action upon the proposal sent to the deputy commissioner (labour) by police administration on May 6 about sealing the shops.

The squad comprised of staff from the deputy commissioner (labour) and the AMC today sealed the shops. The squad comprises labour officer Rohan Rumale, Amol Jadhav, Suvidhkar, shop inspector Govind Gavande, Vithal Vaidya, and Mahendra Ankush.

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The names of shops that faced action today include Honesty Cloth Store, Karishma Shop, Saba Collection, Gulshan Cloth, Bharat Watch, Zara Cloth, R K Collection, Chandak Kirana, Abhay Traders, Ratanlal Motilal, Punjab Suiting and shirting, Famous A-1 Traders, Yunus Tea, Rukmini Saree Centre, Manokamna Cloth Centre, Satya Electricals, Goodluck Flowers, Looking Boys Cloth Store, and Lucky Plants and Florists.