Grocery shops, supermarkets to remain open 24*7, tweets K’taka DGP

Team Udayavani, Mar 25, 2020, 8:29 PM IST

Bengaluru/Mangaluru: Karnataka Director-General of Police (DGP) Praveen Sood in a tweet today said that grocery shops and supermarkets can remain open 24*7 all over the state.

Amid the panic buying witnessed by people and subsequent crowding at shops after the lockdown announcement, the DGP clarified that in view of people’s convenience these shops will remain open. He however asked people to avoid crowding and cooperate with the police.

For the convenience of citizens grocery shops and supermarkets seeking food articles can be open 24*7 all over the state. Cooperate with police by avoiding crowding.

— DGP KARNATAKA (@DgpKarnataka) March 25, 2020

“Patients requiring medical attention are allowed to and from hospital without any need for curfew pass,” he said in yet another tweet.

Patients requiring medical attention are allowed to and from hospital without any need for curfew pass

— DGP KARNATAKA (@DgpKarnataka) March 25, 2020

Meanwhile a Deralakatte resident Zeeshan Mhaskar, in a tweet commented, “In Derlakatte, Mangalore grocery shops are closed since morning. Supermarket is far away which requires traveling in a vehicle.”

Notably the top cop’s tweet came hours after Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel announced a total lockdown in Mangaluru while saying that efforts are underway to arrange a system to deliver essential items at doorsteps during the COVID-19 nationwide lockdown.

While the feasibility of this arrangement is being doubted by netizens, the Karnataka DGP’s tweet will only add to confusion of Mangalureans if they are allowed out for buying essentials.