Indian police officers baton-charged locals flouting COVID-19 lockdown rules on Tuesday (April 20).

Video filmed by a local journalist in Shivpuri in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh shows people queuing to buy tobacco in an orderly fashion outside a store. But local police arrive and begin striking them with batons.

"The locals gathered outside the store to buy tobacco items during the pandemic-induced lockdown. Upon being alerted, the local police rushed to the spot. Following this, the men ran inside the shop and closed the shutter," Newsflare sources said.

"However, the police ordered the shop owner to open the shutter. Following this, the officials evacuated the store and baton-charged the people hiding inside for flouting the COVID-19 lockdown guidelines."

The cops baton-charged locals who flouted the COVID-19 lockdown norms for buying tobacco items in central India's Madhya Pradesh on April 20. The incident took place in the Shankar Colony, located in Shivpuri.

Visuals feature the locals standing outside a store in a queue, awaiting their turn to purchase their items. However, the local police reach the spot and begin thrashing the people. They strike the men with batons. Following this, the locals abscond from the scene while the officials chase after them.

The locals gathered outside the store to buy tobacco items during the pandemic-induced lockdown. Upon being alerted, the local police rushed to the spot. Following this, the men ran inside the shop and closed the shutter.

However, the police ordered the shop owner to open the shutter. Following this, the officials evacuated the store and baton-charged the people hiding inside for flouting the COVID-19 lockdown guidelines.