Mumbai: On Monday, Mumbai police took action against the people who allegedly broke the lockdown protocols and filed a case against more than 2,000 people as well as confiscated over 7,000 vehicles. This is the highest number of culprits and their vehicles booked in one day for violating lockdown measures after the lockdown was imposed in March.
The city police booked over 2,061 people, on Sunday, under Indian Penal Code 188 (insubordination of orders propagated by public servants as per orders) for breaking the prescribed rules and regulations of the nationwide lockdown. This is the first time that the city has reported the highest number of violators on a single day.
Previously, on April 14, the highest number of booked for lockdown violation was 1,164 while the average was 196 on a single day since the lockdown was declared in Mumbai. As a part of the 'Mission Begin Again' program, the lockdown restrictions were eased which resulted in less number of violation cases from June 1 onwards.
According to Mumbai police, among those who were charged on Sunday, 1046 were taken into custody but were later released on bail. 701 were sent warning letters while 314 were shown as wanted.
More than 7,075 vehicles were confiscated by Mumbai police, on Sunday, the highest number of vehicles impounded by them since the lockdown was called in, including 2,000 vehicles seized by the traffic police.
Amid the rise of coronavirus positive cases and fatality rates in the city, a list of new regulations and instructions were issued by the police authorities on Sunday where they urged the citizens to avoid travelling beyond 2km from their residences. However, these latest norms will not be applicable in case of medical emergencies, essential services and for office goers.
'Mission Begin Again' program announced by the Maharashtra government has helped to ease the lockdown restrictions at the initial weeks of June where partial vehicular and public movement was permitted. But people are not following the restrictions properly and coming out on streets, blocking the roads with traffic.
DCP Pranay Ashok, Mumbai police spokesperson said, "The threat of COVID19 persists and as the lockdown eased many people have been found violating the norms endangering their own and other health at risk. It is our appeal that all citizens behave responsibly and avoid unnecessary movement."
The city police has warned the Mumbai citizens to beware while violating the rules as anyone found violating the latest rules will be immediately charged while their vehicles will be confiscated if they are found loitering beyond the boundary of 2kms. Following this, thousands of people and vehicles being booked and impounded respectively were witnessed.
However, netizens started questioning the city police on their latest decision and last minute arrangements as the new restrictions were put into action and the police had already stepped in to charge the people violating rules as well as seizing their vehicles without any prior notice.
