VIDEO: PEOPLE FOUND VIOLATING LOCKDOWN RULES, FORCES DELHI GOVT TO SHUT LIQUOR SHOPS IN THE EASTERN RANGE!

As the third phase of the lockdown begins in India, both the centre and the states had allowed the liquor shops to remain open till 7 pm, barring just those shops which are present within the containment zones.

While the liquor shops opened earlier this morning, people were spotted to be violating the norms of social distancing. Large crowds were spotted in various states across the country, with lengthy queues outside the shops, contributing to more chances of spreading the infection. Videos and images from states such as Delhi, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have surfaced on the internet.

#WATCH: People stand in a queue outside a liquor shop at Desh Bandhu Gupta Road in Delhi. Govt has allowed sale of liquor in standalone shops, neighbourhood (colony) shops or shops in residential complexes. pic.twitter.com/aF1g9cbz7L

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2020

Section 144 is continuing to stand its ground in the country and not more than 5 staff are allowed to work inside the liquor shops. While some shops in some states have tried their best to draw circles outside, inside which people must stand, the flooding crowds are violating social distancing. Although the shops opened only at 9 am, in various states, people began falling in line from 6 or 7 am.

Chhattisgarh: Social distancing norms being flouted as people in large numbers queue outside a liquor shop in Rajnandgaon. The state govt has allowed liquor shops to open in the state from today except for the containment zones. #CoronavirusLockdown pic.twitter.com/GfTzQP86Ip

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2020

Some users of social media platforms have posted pictures of long queues while some others have complained of chaotic crowds.

Is liquor consumption is more important than corona precaution?

This video is recorded in front of liquor shop civic center bhilai. pic.twitter.com/DYILJM3j8B

— Arun (@Arun_tiwari19) May 4, 2020

#Bilaspur #Chhattisgarh liquor shop pic.twitter.com/c9KhiaotFg

— Dipanshu Kabra (@ipskabra) May 4, 2020

Honorable @CMofKarnataka @drashwathcn @Tejasvi_Surya @DgpKarnataka @DKShivakumar

An Appeal from common man, This crowd is not standing to but for Liquor shop. They are standing in residanal area. Mahalakshmi Layout #CloseLiquorshops pic.twitter.com/AFln3gAi2e

— Satyanarayana G (@saisatyanarayan) May 4, 2020

After witnessing this, the Joint Commissioner of Police, Alok Kumar announced that the liquor shops in the Eastern Range in Delhi will be closed since the crowds are beyond control.

Photo Credits: Reuters