Tshering Namgyal | Mongar

Mongar dzongkhag court sentenced 16 men from Ngatshang gewog and eight women from Saling gewog, to six months in prison for playing archery and khuru during the second nationwide lockdown.

The men and women can pay thrimthue in lieu of the prison term.

They were sentenced for violating public order and tranquillity, and purposely failing to abide by the orders of the government issued in the interest of public safety, public order and tranquillity stated in section 448 of Bhutan penal code 2004.

The 16 men played archery in three groups in Ngatshang gewog, six played in Pelshuphu chiwog, six in Roptangkhar village, and four in Shingtha Aring village of Ngatshang chiwog on Nyilo.

On the same day, eight women from Thrindangbi village, Saling gewog played khuru.

The dzongkhag Covid-19 task force forwarded the case to police, who charged them to court on February 1.