19 shops sealed in wee hours; district collector gets call about shops opening in early morning;

Aurangabad, May 8:

An unidentified person called up the district collector Sunil Chavan at 4 am, informing him that shops in City Chowk areas are being reopened at 5 am daily.

He instructed commissioner of police Dr Nikhil Gupta, additional commissioner of Aurangabad Municipal Corporation B B Nemade and tehsildar to take action against the shop owners.

It may be noted that the district administration allowed business establishments to remain open from 7 am to 11 am to contain the COVID spread. After this schedule, no trader is allowed to do business.

On receiving information, all the officers from police and the district administration took action against the shop owners.

District collector Sunil Chavan said that 19 shops were sealed on Saturday morning while 40 more shop owners may face action on Sunday.

The shops will be sealed after issuing a notice. The administration appealed to people to give them information if anyone is reopening the ships by violating norms. The identity of such citizens would be kept confidential.