Around 250 decorators, demonstrating near the collectorate on Wednesday to demand they be allowed to ply their trade, had to face the East Singhbhum district administration’s wrath for violating social distancing norms: not only was the gathering dispersed, 30 protesters were detained and released on bail only after they were subjected to Covid tests.

The protesters, under the aegis of All Decorators’ Sangharsh Samiti, had gathered at Aam Bagan ground in Sakchi at 10am and then marched towards the district collectorate, shouting slogans on loudspeakers fitted onto two vehicles.

The protestors were standing close to each other and many of them were without masks.

During the protest, ADM (law and order) Nand Kishore Lal arrived with a police force and ordered them to disperse. The police resorted to a mild lathicharge after which most protesters fled. Those who couldn’t _ around 30 _ were rounded up.

The 30 protesters were lodged at a camp jail at Motilal Nehru Public School.

"We took action as the protestors were not following social distancing norms. Many of them were not wearing masks. They were also shouting slogans on loudspeakers, the use of which is prohibited," Lal said.

Protesters, who were detained, being put on a police van to be transported to a camp jail on Wednesday. Bhola Prasad

The ADM (law and order) said they needed to act as people had become lax and were ignoring safety measures. “The administration will do everything to keep people safe,” he added.

Convenor of the samiti Sumeet Srivastava, who was leading the protest, said the Centre had allowed the reopening of hotels, clubs and restaurants with Covid restrictions, and had also allowed gatherings of 200 people. But the Jharkhand government, he said, was yet to open up.

"We had to speak through loudspeakers because our families are on the verge of starvation. Since the past seven months, we are sitting idle at home, whereas in other states people engaged in our profession have started earning money as the government of those states have implemented the Centre’s directives,” he said.

Srivastava said they were appealing to the Hemant Soren government to make it convenient for decorators to carry out their businesses.