Police conducted a flag march in the Chhattisgarh capital Raipur and Birgaon to enforce a weeklong lockdown that began on Wednesday, with District Collector Dr. S. Bharathi Dasan and Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Yadav joining the show of strength.
A convoy of armoured vehicles patrolled Raipur throughout the day, appealing to people not to take to the roads and to buy goods only from nearby shops or online.
Police threatened to take strict action against those found outside their homes unnecessarily or flouting the preventative guidelines related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The action will be taken under the National Disaster Management Act and Indian Penal Code, an official communiqué said.
In comparison to normal times, it appeared an unusual silence had descended on Raipur in view of the lockdown.