Amaravati: Some make light of lockdown

Amaravati: Some people in the State are not taking the lockdown seriously. It appears they are even not serious about the containment, control and prevention of the coronavirus.

From March 22 onwards, the government has been instructing the people to stay at home and that they should not come to the streets, except for essential needs. On the other hand, the police started seizing the vehicles and imposing heavy penalties for violations.

Taking advantage of relaxations given by the police in the name of essential purposes, certain sections of the people have been misusing it.

For instance, thousands of vehicles appeared on the streets on Wednesday in Guntur Municipal Corporation limits alone. The police worked hard to control the mob tendency of the crowd that came to the roads.

People are coming to the streets by saying silly reasons and staying for a long time. Some people, especially youngsters have been continuously coming out of the homes, said Kannoju Vasu, CI, Guntur Traffic.

Police allowed the people's movement for essential commodities like vegetables, milk products, groceries, medicine and others. But, the residents in the towns have been coming out of the houses various times for these commodities.

Instead of purchasing them separately, the people could purchase all the necessary items at one go for three to four days and stay in the house.

The government already enforced the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, apart from imposing total lockdown and Section-144 across the State in 13 districts. These restrictions will be continued till March 31, for containment, control and prevention of spread of COVID–19.

J Prabhakar Rao, Inspector General of Police, Guntur range, while speaking to The Hans India, said that on the first day of lockdown, almost all the people came into the roads. On the second day, the situation was better.

On Tuesday, the IG himself booked cases near the District Collectorate in Guntur. He spoke to commuters, checked vehicles and verified identity proofs and seized three cars. He instructed the police to seize vehicles, if found any violation of the rules.

Prabhakara Rao said that, "Because of the publicity given by the police, there is awareness among many people and they are staying inside the houses. Police will implement lockdown very strictly and enforce all the laws."

Prabhakar Rao also added that, "We have been doing it as part of a national health emergency. We have our kith and kin. It is for everyone's health. We have to save our people. Law is not enforced forcefully.

It is for the well-being of the public only. We are allowing residents only in the emergency situation. We will not spare if someone comes into the streets by saying cock and bull stories.

The vehicles concerned will be seized under Section-188 IPC and they would not be released till March 31. Cases also will be booked".

The IGP said, "We have placed barricades at every police station limits. Both public and private vehicles will not be allowed till the end of the lockdown."