Organisations in Chatra are organising football tournaments even amid the coronavirus pandemic.

After getting reports of tournaments taking place across many blocks, deputy commissioner Divyanshu Jha asked officials not to give permission for such events in areas under their jurisdiction.

In one such event on Wednesday, Simaria BJP MLA Kishun Kumar Das was chief guest of a football tournament in Itkhori, drawing huge criticism.

Local zilla parishad representatives and leaders of various political parties are encouraging such tournaments and becoming chief guest of the events.

Das, however, defended himself and organisers of all other tournaments taking place in the district recently, claiming that social distancing was taken care of.

However, block officials made organisers call off the tournament.

Interestingly, Chatra officials are permitting MLAs and other powerful leaders to go ahead with such events.

In Simaria, block development officer Amit Mishra passed an order against organising such events. He said if anyone violates this order, they will have to face legal action as the state government has prohibited such activities till September.

The district administration is worried that a large number of people coming to see matches is resulting in violation of social distancing norms.