Residents violate lockdown, 7.5K booked till date

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:06.04.2020

The lockdown kicked in across the state on March 24 and police have so far registered 78,837 cases against those out on the roads for unnecessary reasons, arresting 78,707 people and seizing 59,868 vehicles. The violators have been fined Rs 21.26 lakh.

In Chennai, with more than 150 check-posts, police booked 7,460 people and seized 3,625 vehicles for violating prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC. They also booked 17 people for stepping out of their homes violating home quarantine rules and one man for spreading rumors about Covid-19.

However, despite the strict enforcement, city roads continue to be busy in the morning and almost all motorists claim they are going to buy vegetables or groceries, say police. “We never allow two people on a bike unless they prove they are going to a hospital,” said a sub-inspector at Triplicane. “We note down the vehicle number and the purpose of being out. If they are repeatedly found citing the same reasons, we book them.”

A major problem for police is the increasing numbers of motorists with fake stickers. Many have ‘Urgent: Corona duty’ posters on their vehicles but are unable to provide supporting documents, said an officer. A few others carry huge cartons as if delivering groceries. “We let them go only if we are convinced they are genuine,” he said.

In places like Thiruvottiyur, police unable to keep people from coming on to the streets ask them to recite verses from the Thirukural. Those who don’t know are given printouts by police after scanning the internet.

“People never come out in the afternoon or late in the evening,” said sub-inspector Parameshwaran of Kasimedu. Most venture out around 6pm and are cautious while crossing the main roads, where there is maximum police deployment.

“It is only the two-wheeler population that is high during the peak hours, as most of them prefer bikes to come out on to the roads to buy vegetables or groceries. Cars are relatively fewer on the roads. We have been asked to remain vigilant and seize any vehicle, be it a bike or a car, if the owner doesn’t have a valid reason,” said Parameshwaran. Most of those caught on the roads seem ready to pay the fines, he said, adding that few were aware of the consequences of being out on the roads.

Separately, the traffic police booked 16,245 people for violating rules including riding triples, driving while drunk and not wearing helmets, seizing 7,392 two-wheelers and 323 auto-rickshaws.

Police stop motorists on OMR, the city’s IT corridor