Anyone violating Covid SOP would be charged with ‘attempt to murder’ case: DGP Assam

May 12: Anyone violating the new Covid guidelines issued by the Assam government on 12 May and found  organizing a function, party, violating the SOP will be treated as a betrayal against society & nation and will be booked under ‘Attempt to murder’ like charges and not under general IPC sections. Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta sent out this strong warning to the violators saying that stern action would be initiated against them. He further said that such strict action will be taken all violators irrespective of rich and poor, powerful and common people.

The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has come up with new guidelines on Wednesday to contain the further spread of coronavirus in the state. The new SOPs were released by Assam Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah and DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta during a press meet on Wednesday morning in Guwahati. The new set of guidelines will come into effect from May 13 until further orders.

All shops and commercial establishments shall shut down at 1 PM on all days. There shall be total ban on movement of individuals from 2 PM to 5 AM daily, except for specific exemptions during this phase. Restaurants, Dhabas, and other eateries can entertain dine-in guest only up to 1 PM after which only home delivery of food will be allowed. On this, the DGP said that, there are reports of shopkeepers putting their shutter down and keeping the back door open for customers to come. Any such attempt will be dealt with utmost severity and such shop owners shall be booked under NDMA Act.

“Even during the permissible time period, that is, till 1 PM, if people outside any building, shopping complex, markets, the police will resort to lathi charge and please don’t mind for that,” stated DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta. He added, “You may abuse the police for this or file case against us, but any incidence of crowding will be strictly dealt with by the police.”

Also Read: New SOP: Curfew from 2 PM; govt & pvt offices to be closed for 15 days from 13 May