Odisha: Constables wield lathi on grocery shoppers as confusion prevails in Bhubaneswar markets

BHUBANESWAR: Chaos accompanied the enforcement of the lockdown here, with police using lathis to ensure social distancing. People who stepped out for unavoidable tasks such as buying groceries and other essentials faced the wrath of the men in khaki, and were left thoroughly confused about how to buy food in future.
Police were seen using force on people who had ventured out on foot, and on those on bikes.Grocery shops unofficially became no-go zones after noon, with police personnel deployed in large numbers outside these shops. Since the government’s order clearly states that grocery shops will remain open during the lockdown, residents are now wondering how they will be able to access the products if they are not allowed to step out. Most online delivery services were unavailable on Wednesday, and local kirana shops do not have the manpower to start deliveries.
“We welcome the seriousness with which police are implementing the lockdown, but there should be a set of concrete dos and don’ts to make our lives easier. We don’t understand when police decided that people buying essentials should go back by noon. In that case, shouldn’t police ask the stores to also close by then?” said Prabhat Rath, a resident of the city.
Residents seemed to agree on the fact that there was a gap between orders coming from the top brass of police and those being followed by the constabulary and lower-rung personnel on the ground. The former however refused to admit that there is any confusion. “There is no confusion at all. The instructions are clear. Police will use force to ensure the lockdown if people don’t follow the directives,” said twin city police commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi. He advised people to go to grocery stores on foot.
In other parts of the state, too, police were seen beating cyclists. In Bhubaneswar, the force made some people do sit-ups for flouting norms.
Social activist Biswajit Mohanty said instead of beating people up, police should ensure social distancing by making buyers stand apart in a queue outside grocery shops. “One fails to understand the logic of police that social distancing can be ensured only if a person goes shopping on foot. This is ridiculous,” he said.