Police in this lower Assam town have registered cases against 10 shops for violating social distancing norms.
Three cases (case numbers 652/2020, 642/2020 and 643/2020) have been registered in Dhubri police station against the shops under Sections 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the IPC.
The police said investigation into the matter was on, and it will take up more such cases, if the social distancing norms are violated by shopkeepers.
The shops against which the cases have been registered are some of the well-known grocery and readymade garment shops in Dhubri market.
The shops are Perfect Choice Cloth Store, M Store Fashion, Kamal Bastralay, Mihir Fashion, Rajindra Umbrella Store, Rupayan Cloth Store, M Plaza, Nahata Quality Store, Nilu Store (Nuniyapatty) and Akansha Grocery Store, according to the police.
“Proprietors of shops are requested to follow the rules not just to avoid lawful action but also to show their responsibility towards society in this pandemic scenario,” an officer said.
The police also requested all shopkeepers to strictly observe the three basic things — provide customers with hand wash/sanitisers, maintain social distancing inside and outside the shop and not to sell to customers without masks.
