The Delhi Police registered an FIR on Thursday against a pastry shop owner in Bengali Market after 35 workers were found living in “unhygienic conditions” in a small space in the shop, flouting the social distancing order.

The market thereafter was sealed by the authorities as there were fear of coronavirus outbreak among the people.

The group of people was found staying at Bengali Pastry Shop after the officials of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), along with doctors and local police, carried out surveillance in the area.

A senior police official said on April 8 an extensive surveillance was carried out in Babar Road, Bengali Market and nearby areas of Babar Road by the surveillance team of the NDMC, along with doctors and local police, as earlier three COVID-19 positive  cases  were found in house number 68, Babar Road.

“During the exercise, house-to-house survey was carried out for influenza like illness or fever. The teams found 35 people at the Bengali Pastry Shop, Bengali Market, living in unhygienic condition in a small space and no norms and measures of social distancing were followed. Two of the workers had fever and were not feeling well,” said the senior police official, adding that an FIR under section 188/269 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 3 Epidemic Diseases act has been registered and investigation of the case going on.

As per the direction of District Magistrate (New Delhi) the two persons from Bengali Market who showed “influenza-like illness” (ILI) symptoms were taken to RML Hospital for Covid-19 testing on Thursday. “Taking precautionary measures, they have been shifted to one of the quarantine centre,” the official said.

The NDMC has carried out an extensive disinfection drive in areas of Bengali Market, Babar Road and adjoining lanes, sub-lanes, residential complexes, parks of the area keeping in view the importance of disinfection and sanitation in this time. The civic body used 6, 000 liters of 1 per cent solution of hypochlorotite to disinfect the area.

A team of more than 20 persons led by Chef Medical Officer (projects), Dr Shakuntala Srivastava and director of horticulture S Chellaiah. The move came a day after the Delhi Government sealed Bengali Market area of New Delhi after it was found to be one of the hotspots for COVID-19 transmission.

Apart from that, the daily sanitation and door-to-door garbage collection remained undisturbed, it said, adding that regular announcement through (public announcement) PA system has been made in the area by deputed police officials for maintaining social distancing, regular hand wash and adhering to mandate of use of mask for containment of Covid 19 infection.