Border shops in SWGH ordered to close after reports of protocol violation

TURA: After cases of violation of social distancing norms were reported in South West Garo Hills, the closure of all shops from Garobadha to Ichaguri along the Meghalaya-Assam border were ordered by the Deputy Commissioner on Friday.

The order under Section 144 CrPC was issued by South West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ramakrishna Chitturi with immediate effect until further orders. Earlier, permission was given to open specific types of shops based on the SOPs within the district between 7.00 am to 4.00 pm on all days except Sundays.

The prohibitory order was also necessitated in view of reports of COVID-19 positive cases in South Salmara district of Assam which shares a long border with South West Garo Hills and a number of villages in the district are contiguous to the villages in South Salmara district.