16 held across Odisha for violating lockdown

Bhubaneswar/Bhadrak/Phulbani: A total of 16 persons were arrested in different parts of Odisha for allegedly violating rules imposed by it during a week-long lockdown as a measure to tackle the spread of deadly COVID-19.

Five persons were held in Bhadrak for opening business establishments despite the closure directives were issued by the State government during the lockdown.

In a similar move, the Kandhamal Police arrested 11 persons for opening their shops in Phulbani town after registering cases. Later the 11 persons were forwarded to the court.

The State government on March 21 imposed a lockdown in five districts and eight towns as a preventive measure to stop spread of COVID-19. However, emergency services were exempted from the restrictions. Public transport services were also suspended during the lockdown.

Later the government extended its lockdown to another nine districts and one municipal area.