Rs10.85 cr fine recovered at Maha for violations of lockout, 29k arrested

Nagpur Updates July 5, 2020

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Nagpur:- State-wide citizens have paid Rs10.85 crore in fines for more than 1,45 lakh offenses reported during the lockdown period for infringement of various norms. During this time the police had to arrest 29,607 people under various acts of force.

In the district, traffic police collected Rs1.86 crore fine under CP BK Upadhyay, and detained 6,415 vehicles. Under DCP Vikram Sali, the traffic police reported 1,20 lakh cases during the lockdown for violations of rules.
City police have also been pressing charges on 3,336 people for not wearing masks. A total of 4,882 cases against violators were reported for violation of several lockdown norms.

State home minister Anil Deshmukh, releasing data on Saturday’s state police action, said people disobeyed laws amid repeated appeals and knowledge of the crowd.

“Government had made every effort to emphasize compliance with safety rules, but masses roamed without helmets, gathered in crowds, and carried out other activities that forced police to take stern action,” he said.
Deshmukh said it was a Herculean task for him to keep the morale of cops high with 64 police officers dead and more than 4,000 Covid-19 tests positive (1,040 active). “As a home minister, I moved around, meeting cops at barricades, hospitals, Covid centers, and roads to assure them of our government’s full support. I shared tea with them at the boundaries of the district and also wished them birthdays when they were posted on the highways, “he said.

The home minister stressed that Maharashtra police had made every effort from day one to impose the lockdown. The 64 Covid-19 staff members who died included four officers. Cops have also faced 292 assaults in which 86 have been wounded.

With the lockout causing economic hardship, senior police officers seemed bemused that people took the rules lightly and preferred paying fines while not paying heed to police and other agencies’ calls to ‘keep home.’
Upadhyay said the police action in Maharashtra as a whole has been exemplary in every aspect, from policing to awareness-raising and helping migrants.

“Police created social media awareness and held one-to-one interactions through different programmes. From CP to constables, all tried to warn people not to violate lockdown rules, as it posed a threat to spread the disease in society, “the CP said.

Nagpur police have also checked 60,136 vehicles in the city throughout nakabandis. Around 737 cases of illegal possession and liquor ferrying were registered, and confiscated materials worth more than Rs1.51 crore.
Upadhyay said that while managing duties such as stepping up surveillance and tightening security around containment zones and Covid hospitals, police have to take those actions.

“We had to implement lockdowns and also counter crimes through vigorous drives such as ‘Operation Shutdown Phase II’ and ‘Operation Hands off’ focusing on goons. During the bandobast three constables and one officer were contaminated but the behavior persisted, “he said.