Curfew fails as people come out on streets to beat utensils, burst crackers

Our Correspondent

Kolkata: BJP supporters took out rallies and came out on the streets to beat drums, utensils and burst crackers, flouting the call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging people to stay indoors on Sunday for 12 hours from 7 am, terming it as 'Janata Curfew'.

Modi had urged people to clap, beat drums or utensils from their home for five minutes from 5pm, to express gratitude to those who are working risking their lives at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the country.

The city witnessed an act of irresponsibility when hundreds of people came out on the road beating drums and utensils, blowing conch shells and shouting slogans congratulating Modi, thus flouting his message openly.

In Chetla and Howrah, BJP workers even took out rallies flouting the guideline that they should maintain 3 meter distance from each other. "What we followed from the morning by keeping ourselves indoor to avoid gatherings got nullified by the irresponsible behaviour of some people when they came out on the streets and took part in gatherings. The virus can spread in seconds. Such behaviour is uncalled for," said Dr Sandip Dutta, adding: "It is not the time to rejoice. We should be serious to ensure that the disease do not spread from next week. We saw people bursting crackers. It is most unfortunate."

Police intervened and asked some youths who were playing cricket on the street on Chetla Hat Road and some who had assembled near tea stalls, to go back to their homes. "Some people think that home quarantine means that they do not have to go to office and they can take part in adda sessions on the street," said Dr S Chatterjee, adding: "They should not go out on the streets." The city wore a deserted look as people stayed indoors. Private buses, taxis and auto rickshaws did not ply. There were some state-run buses which were seen plying without passengers. The state-run and private markets remained closed and most of the medicine shops also downed their shutters. New Market and its adjoining areas wore a deserted look as well.

"This is for the first time that New Market wore a deserted look on Sunday (March 22, 2020). Even during bandhs, people used to come and hang out here in the evening. Today, we have kept our shops closed. Not a single customer has come to the market for shopping," said Vinod Tiwari, a shopkeeper at New Market.