The rising Covid-19 positive cases in Assam have managed to send its citizens scurrying indoors. Unlike the previous days of lockdown, when many were seen “loitering randomly”, the streets across the state remained mostly deserted on Thursday.

The aggravated situation in the state was the topic of discussion in every household. “Just when we were thinking that the state has done extremely well to avoid even a single case of Covid-19, the scene completely changed overnight. It’s scary now and I can’t even think of going out since so many people related to the Delhi event are still untraced,” said Biplab Dutta, a resident of the city.

Grocery shops remained open here but did not have many shoppers. However, people were seen buying vegetables from handcart vendors despite spiralling prices.

To enforce complete lockdown and keep track of violators, the city police have deployed a drone unit to add eyes to surveillance. “The drone unit is flying the drone at least twice a day. It is helping in providing real-time intelligence to the police control room here,” a senior police official said.

In Kokrajhar district, which borders Bengal, there was a total lockdown on Thursday. Superintendent of police Rakesh Roushan said, “People have been following the lockdown completely in the district. No major violation has been recorded here.”

Hailakandi district in south Assam also witnessed a total lockdown, following sealing of inter-district borders with Karimganj and Cachar on Wednesday after the first Covid-19 positive case was detected in Karimganj. Only vehicles carrying essential goods and emergency services were plying. The district police have set up helpline numbers 9864609954 and 03844-222580 to report any matter relating to coronavirus and lodge complaints against violation of lockdown.

However, not everything was smooth.

Hailakandi police seized 65 vehicles and arrested 22 violators since Wednesday. Six cases have been registered against violators and fines of Rs 21,000 realised.

A grocery shop owner was arrested late on Wednesday evening for keeping his shop open beyond the prescribed time. The licence of a grocery shop owned by one Akil Ali Majharbhuiya was cancelled in Hailakandi on Thursday for keeping the shop open beyond the government-stipulated hours.

At Bajali in Barpeta district, at least two persons were arrested on Thursday. They had opened their shop without permission and when asked to shut down, they allegedly pelted stones at a government official’s vehicle.

At Gohpur, the headquarters of Biswanath district, police apprehended at least five persons who were travelling to the town from Banderdewa town in Lakhimpur district in two trucks carrying essentials.

The police had arrested 843 people and detained 3,277 vehicles in the state till Wednesday.

A penalty of over Rs 11.46 lakh has been realised from the violators.

Additional reporting by Satananda Bhattacharjee in Hailakandi