No fear, as people are not getting any beatings: Mumbai police

Mumbai police say that despite appeals to follow lockdown rules, people are roaming around and giving silly excuses on being caught

Both the state government and the city police appealed for strict adherence to the rules of the lockdown, imposed to break the chain of Coronavirus transmission, but many citizens have been spotted wandering about the streets. When caught, they claim they are out to buy essentials or headed for a job or a funeral.

Since April 5, the city police have registered 888 cases of violation of lockdown rules, Mumbai police’s spokesperson S Chaitanya said. Some of the senior police officers said people are not scared anymore as they are not being thrashed. Mumbai Commissioner of Police Hemant Nagrale on Wednesday asked all personnel to not harass people or beat up or give punishment like sit-ups for not obeying the rules.

Constables, inspectors and senior officers told mid-day that most people seen out on the roads have no valid reason for getting out of their home, and among the various silly excuses they give are -- medicine or grocery shopping, travelling for job or funeral of a relative who died of COVID-19.

Senior Inspector Vilas Shinde of Mahim police station said, “We are registering 5-6 cases daily for violation of lockdown rules. And, to register each case, we have to spend 1-2 hours. Our staff is working 24/7 to ensure people’s safety. “People sometimes try to act smart; they carry the prescription of their parents’ or someone else on their mobile phone and show it when caught,” he added.

Senior Inspector Parvin Patil of Dahisar police station said they register about 50-55 violation cases daily. “Most of the violators are caught at Dahisar Toll Naka where people enter from Vasai-Virar and Mira-Bhayandar areas. Their excuses are all the same. We are not allowing anyone to enter Mumbai until it’s for essential services or they have a valid reason.” Cases are being registered under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, Chaitanya said.

Senior Inspector Anandrao Hakke of Samta Nagar police station said, “On Western Express Highway at Kandivli, there is a strict nakabandi and no one is allowed to travel. We verify people’s claims for being outside and give notice to those making excuses.”

During the last lockdown, around 60,000 violators were booked across Maharashtra and 13,381 people were arrested.

888
No. of violators booked in the city since April 5

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