Those blocking COVID-19 victims’ funeral to face Goondas Act

Royapuram and Mannady containment zones to get three-tier security system

22/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

No entry: Tin sheets put up at B.C. Press Road in Royapuram, a containment zone. B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

Chennai Commissioner of Police A.K. Viswanathan said on Tuesday that anyone who obstructed the burial or cremation of COVID-19 victims would be arrested and booked under the Goondas Act.

Mr. Viswanathan told reporters that 21 persons had been arrested and remanded for rioting and attempt to murder while opposing the burial of Dr. Simon Hercules, who died of COVID-19 on Sunday. “We are searching for a few more persons involved in this incident and all of them will be booked under the Goondas Act. The Corporation and health officials are following WHO guidelines and experts have assured us that the virus will not spread due to burial/cremation of COVID-19 victims. If people continue opposing this, we will take strict action,” he warned.

Mr. Viswanathan urged residents to understand the seriousness of the pandemic and not step out of their houses. “Experience from other countries has taught us that only if we fight together can we win against this virus. So all residents should follow the advice of the GCC and Health Department,” he said.

Inspection held

The police and the Chennai Corporation would together provide a three-tier security system in the Royapuram and Mannady containment zones, which have the largest number of COVID-19 cases in the city, he added.

Mr. Viswanathan, Corporation Commissioner G. Prakash, Additional Commissioner of Police (North) R. Dhinakaran and other police officers inspected the two containment zones.

“We wanted to study the zones to decide on what kind of measures need to be taken. There were some irregularities pertaining to personal distancing in the Mannady grain market,” said a senior police officer.

At a press meet conducted soon after the inspection, Mr. Prakash said that till Monday, the city had recorded a total of 303 COVID-19 cases, and of those, 92 cases were reported in the Royapuram zone alone. Of the 92 cases, close to 60 were concentrated in four to five wards. “After this analysis, the GCC and the city police decided to take steps to increase security in the containment zones,” he said.

The police said that in core areas, residents would not be allowed to come out and steps would be taken to ensure that essential commodities were provided to them. At the next level, people could come out for basic needs, though outsiders would not be allowed. At the final level, vehicle diversions would be effected.

Since goods from the wholesale market at Mannady are supplied to different parts of the State, a meeting will be held with traders. “This is to see what kind of protective mechanisms can be put in place in the locality without affecting trade. The plans will be implemented from Wednesday and by doing this, we hope that the spurt can be contained,” said a police officer.