Rajkot: Several video clips showing a huge crowd gathered at a venue for a programme of folk songs — ‘dayro’ in Bhalechada village of Manavadar taluka in Junagadh went viral on Monday.
In one of the videos Porbandar MP Ramesh Dhaduk and other local politicians are seen sitting in the audience. Dhaduk is seen enjoying the programme without a face mask.
However, Dhaduk could not be contacted for comment. His personal assistant said that the MP was in a meeting.
After the videos of the event that was held last week went viral on Monday, the Manavadar police booked six persons including a village priest for violation of Covid-19 guidelines.
Junagadh superintendent of police Ravi Teja Vasamsetty said, “The mahant (priest) and the village leaders have been booked under relevant sections for risking public health.” Those booked include mahant Sadarambapu, Bhupat Jalu, Arajan Dhranga, Yogesh Dhranga, Dhiraj Aghera and Devji Chapariya. They were booked under IPC sections 188 and 269 and various sections of Disaster Management Act and Epidemic Disease Act. In one of the video clips, folk singer Geeta Rabari is being showered with currency notes by some people in the audience. According to sources, the event was organized by the Bhalechada gau shala (cow shelter) and temple on March 30.
Interestingly, though the event was held last week, the FIR was lodged on Monday only after several video clips went viral on various social media platforms. Bhalechada village is located 4k from Manavadar town which falls under the jurisdiction of Manavadar police station.
The majority of the audience is seen not wearing face masks and enjoying folk song sung by various artists including Rabari.