‘Thikri pehras’ in rural areas

Chandigarh: Amid the Covid surge in rural areas, the state has once again decided to resort to age-old practice of ‘Thikri pehras’ (community policing) so as to keep a close vigil on the movement of people in and out of villages. An official spokesperson said an order to this extent had been issued from the Chief Secretary's office to all DCs that they might issue or enforce necessary orders regarding the performance of patrol duty by able-bodied adult male inhabitants of the village for public safety under the relevant provisions of the Punjab Village and Small Towns Patrol Act, 1918. — TNS