The Wangdue Phodrang District Court passed the judgment on five cases involving 11 individuals in connection with violation of lockdown protocols as of Wednesday. The Court still has three more cases related to the lockdown violation.
They were all apprehended by police for violating lockdown protocols between the end of December and the first week of January.
Ten individuals have been sentenced with a compoundable prison term of one month to three months for conducting annual puja and funeral rites for deceased, playing Khuru, opening of shops and for violating movement restriction during the second nationwide lockdown. And a shopkeeper who was accused of opening his shop during the lockdown was acquitted since it was found out that he did not violate the order. According to the judgment, the list of shops allowed to open maintained by the Taskforce itself was not clear.
All the convicts can pay in lieu of their respective prison terms. They can also appeal to the higher court within ten working days if not satisfied with the judgment.
