Nagpur: The Vidarbha region, including Nagpur city and district, came to standstill on Sunday as citizens observed ‘Janata Curfew’ to stop coronavirus epidemic.
There was a peaceful, but also eerie, feeling on the vacant streets as the appeal of prime minister Narendra Modi did what action by official machinery could not.
The stunning emptiness of the public places during the Janata Curfew was broken for brief moments at 5 pm when citizens started clapping and beating utensils, like bells, as a mark of gratitude for the medical fraternity, civic and police department who are fighting Covid-19 outbreak.
Chants at temples and intonations were also heard at many places like Khamla, Sonegaon. A handful spoilsports watered down the genuine emotion of the citizens by bursting crackers and police had to intervene to stop them.
During the curfew, actually second day of the lockdown, city police detained 878 persons and registered 35 offences for the violations of orders. Also, 297 persons were challaned at 66 nakabandi points across the city.
City police launched the crackdown, under CP BK Upadhyay and Joint CP Ravindra Kadam, on the violators under ‘Operation Lockdown’ which will remain in place till March 31. “There were already fewer people on the road. We had to be strict when required and send back people to home if they did not have any genuine reason to be out,” said Upadhyay.
Police had to act tough at Mominpura with the residents not in a mood to stay inside houses. A squad of riot control police (RCP) had to be deployed along with staff from Tehsil police station and headquarters.
The Nagpur rural police too had deployed nakabandi at state borders and checkpoints disallowing entry of vehicles or people into Maharashtra without valid reason.
City police, in a fresh development, have now declared prohibitory orders between 9 pm on Sunday and 5 am on Monday during which the citizens would have to abstain from gathering at public places or face action.
Sources stated the top brass decided to bring in the order to ensure there are no gatherings on the road when end Janata Curfew and an overnight ritual of a community coincided.
In city, citizens’ response to Curfew call left the main roads, lanes and highways wearing an unprecedented deserted look with only the cops seen at otherwise busy junctions.
Negligible numbers of vehicles and people were found straying onto the road only to be strictly sent back by the police unless they could furnish reasons of emergencies like heading for hospital or pharmacy and so on. Main markets like Kalamna, Cotton market, Kamal chowk and such places remained closed.
The locations like Hingna, MIDC and Buti Bori too were found closed with no industries or factories operating.
With shops and establishments, including many essential services, closed, the shutdown was one that the city had not seen in the past one decade over any issue.
The absence of autos, cabs, buses and Metro, shut as a part of the lockdown declared by the district administration, added to the effect of the complete shutdown.
Citizens, apart from co-operating with police at most places, also showed concern for the khaki department personnel who were on the road since early morning.
Citizen groups, like residents of Vaishali Nagar, along with some individuals came forward to serve tea, snacks and water to the cops at many places as no outlets or kiosk were open. Some resident groups, like from Bhaldarpura, also were found offering eatables to homeless and beggars.
The regular rush at the Outdoor Patients Department and casualties were also much less at Mayo and Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) with crimes and vehicular accidents remaining negligible.
The regular rush at Nagpur railway station, Ganeshpeth bus depot and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar international airport too was absent while security personnel could be seen all day long.
In Amravati, barring some essential commodity shops and sporadically moving police or health department vehicles, there was no life to be seen on roads.
The public transport too was not seen. Bus stands in Amravati and Badnera wore a deserted look. Main markets at Rajkamal square, Shyam Chowk and other areas remained closed. Similar was the response in all 14 taluka headquarters and towns and villages of the district.
In Wardha too, the response to the Janata Curfew was unprecedented. So far, 107 people are under quarantine while 53 are in home quarantine. Not a single person has been found positive in the district. 93-year-old Bhaiyaji Mashankar said he had not seen such a response for a curfew in his life.
In Chandrapur too the shutdown was total during the day. However, after beating of claps and utensils at their home at 5 pm, people started stepping out breaking the curfew.
The district administration immediately ordered them back by making public announcements that restrictions had been extended till 5 am on Monday. Police was told to intensify the patrolling and force the people back into homes.
