Not wearing mask may land you FIR

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 3

The Ludhiana police have started registering FIRs against persons found roaming on roads without wearing masks. The police have registered several FIRs under the Disaster Management Act and other sections of the IPC.

The Daresi police registered a case against Deepak Kumar of Nanak Nagar. He was selling vegetables while more than 24 persons had gathered at his home. None of them was wearing masks.

A case under section 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of IPC has been registered.

In another case, the Haibowal police booked Sanjay Kumar of New Vijay Nagar. He had opened his garments shop in Haibowal where customers sans masks were making purchases. Despite curfew, Sanjay opened his shop and invited the risk of spreading Covid-19.

The Haibowal police booked Narinder Kumar of Pritam Nagar for roaming without a curfew pass. A case under section 188 of the IPC has been registered against him.

The Division 5 police have registered a case under section 57 of the Disaster Management Act against Rajesh Kumar of Guru Ramdas Nagar. The investigating officer, ASI Pardeep Singh, said Rajesh was roaming in the area without purpose.

Drones to keep tabs on violators

The police on Friday formed drone-surveillance teams to keep tabs on curfew violators. As many as 15 teams have been formed by the Ludhiana Commissionerate. By using this technology, the police will have the evidence against curfew violators as the drone cameras will also record the movement of violators. DCP Akhil Chaudhary launched said: “With the help of 15 drone cameras, the teams will keep an eye on thickly populated areas, including Kochar Market, Jawahar Nagar, bus stand, Bharat Nagar Chowk, Session Chowk, Sham Nagar, Shimlapuri, Arora cut, Pakhowal Road, Hero Bakery and Dugri.”

Relatives throng open jails

Although the police have been lodging curfew violators in the open jails in large numbers, they just shut eyes to violations (not maintaining social distancing) by the kin of inmates who gather outside these jails. The police usually keep the violators in jail for a few hours.