UP: Cops to regulate assembly of retailers in Prayagraj wholesale medicine market

PRAYAGRAJ: After receiving intelligence reports that owners of medical stores are causing unnecessary crowding in wholesale medicine market on Leader Road, police authorities have roped in two additional teams to regulate assembly in the area.
These retailers have also been asked to follow norms like wearing mask, maintaining social distance and use sanitisers and gloves.
President of Allahabad Chemists & Druggist Association Anil Dubey said despite being asked to book their orders between 11am and 2pm and ensure deliveries from 3pm to 6pm, retailers were not following the appeal and reaching Leader road in groups for purchase of medicines.
“When the appeal was ignored by retailers, we shut our shops and refused to deliver drugs to them,” a wholesaler said.
Senior police and administrative officials interacted with office-bearers of the Allahabad Chemist & Druggist Association and decided to deploy additional mobile police pickets to regulate sale and purchase of medicines.
There are over 200 medicine shops dealing in wholesale business at Leader Road and retailers from various districts reach here to buy medicines.
Police have also advised traders dealing in wholesale to open shops alternatively to avoid rush and fix a proper time for delivery.
Harsh Mehrotra, a wholesale drug dealer at Leader road told TOI, “As additional police pickets are being deployed and police are strictly enforcing lockdown rules, those who have booked orders on phone or online are being asked to come to Leader Road to get deliveries.”
“We have also been making arrangements to dispatch orders to retailers,” he added.
Meanwhile, retailers are also facing problems as people are asking for medicines for three months despite the fact that doctors have not prescribed for it.
Chemists said they were not in a position to provide medicines for months as they had limited stock.