Swiggy, Zomato, and other food delivery services were temporarily suspended in many parts of Hyderabad on Saturday since the police launched a round-the-clock crackdown to enforce the lockdown.

The Swiggy and Zomato management decided to halt their operations in Hyderabad unless further clarification from higher authorities on the issue of whether food delivery was allowed or not.

Later at night, IT and MAUD Minister KT Rama Rao said he would discuss the issue with the Director-General of Police. Taking to Twitter, Rama Rao said he “received several complaints on the police stopping the food delivery services & others in distress. Will discuss with TelanganaDGP and resolve asap (sic).”

Received several complaints on the police stopping the food delivery services & others in distress

Will discuss with https://twitter.com/TelanganaDGP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TelanganaDGP and resolve asap
— KTR (@KTRTRS) https://twitter.com/KTRTRS/status/1396142901327847425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2021

State DGP held a review meeting with three commissioners of police, about the 'Disruption of essential services including food deliveries. They have been instructed to get in touch with all stakeholders and redress all grievances at the earliest for smooth supply of essential services, while tightening the lockdown enforcement.

Further, all three Commissioners of Police have been instructed to get in touch with all stakeholders and redress all grievances at the earliest for smooth supply of essential services, while tightening the https://twitter.com/hashtag/LockDown?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LockDown enforcement .https://twitter.com/hashtag/StayHomeStaySafe?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StayHomeStaySafe.
— DGP TELANGANA POLICE (@TelanganaDGP) https://twitter.com/TelanganaDGP/status/1396180088652062720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2021

Earlier, the state government categorically mentioned that e-commerce of goods and merchandise including food, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment will be exempted from curbs imposed from 6 am to 10 am period.

According to reports, the police have seized the food delivery boys' vehicles, claiming that they are not essential services. As per a version of food app aggregators, police seized their vehicles at 9 a.m. and returned them after 5 p.m on Saturday.

Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi responded on Twitter, saying,"... if the government has decided not to allow food delivery, please amend the GO. Till such an amendment is made, food delivery personnel should not be stopped. "

This had caused an inordinate delay in food delivery, which left many hungry citizens fuming. There were several videos doing the rounds on social media where the cops were seen caning the food delivery boys who were pleading with them to be sent. The hapless boys were seen showing their phones about the delivery orders as proof and yet they were stopped.