Over 100 arrested for defying curfew in Punjab

A day after Punjab government clamped a statewide curfew to combat coronavirus, over 100 violators were arrested in parts of state for defying orders even as people largely stayed indoors.

However, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in a video mess expressed satisfaction over response to curfew and said state government wanted people to stay indoors to check spre of disease.

Singh ackwledged that people were facing difficulties as y require milk, vegetables and or items.

"We have me arrangements. We have told deputy commissioners to ensure supply of milk. We are trying that milk and vegetables reach on ir doorstep," said Singh.

Punjab government h imposed curfew after finding that people were igring statewide lockdown ordered by it. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ordered imposition of a "full curfew with relaxations".

On Tuesday, police registered 232 FIRs and arrested 111 people for curfew violation, an official said.

Police also h to use mild force against those who violated restrictions.

Wielding sticks, police personnel at many places forced violators, especially youths, to do sit-ups or even crawl on ro as a punishment for coming out of ir homes without any reason.

Some violators, who were on two-wheelers and travelled in cars, were slapped and hit with stick for defying orders.

Videos of such violators even went viral on social media. y were allowed to go home after y apologised for roaming on streets, an official said.

"People were t rey to listen and coming out of ir homes without any reason. refore, we use mild force against m for defying curfew," a police official in Jalandhar said. Ros bordering Chandigarh and Haryana were completely sealed.

DGP Dinkar Gupta said while maximum 38 FIRs for curfew violation were registered in SAS Nagar (Mohali), 34 were lodged in Amritsar (Rural), and 30 each in Tarn Taran and Sangrur. He said maximum 43 people were arrested from Tarn Taran.

Twenty-three persons were arrested in Kapurthala, 15 in Hoshiarpur followed by Bathinda (13), Ferozepur (5), Patiala (5), Gurdaspur (4) and Ludhiana Rural (2), police said, ding that 232 FIRs were registered in state.

figures of arrests from or districts stood at Amritsar (14), Jalandhar (10), Batala (6), Gurdaspur (4), Patiala (7), Ropar (4), Fatehgarh Sahib (11), Jalandhar (7), Hoshiarpur (9), Kapurthala (4), Ludhiana (2), SBS Nagar (1), Bathinda (3), Ferozepur (7), Moga (4) and Faridkot (1), y said.

districts with zero violation of curfew were Khanna, Pathankot, Barnala, Ludhiana, Fazilka and Mansa, police ded.

Two cases for violation of quarantine restrictions were also reported from Sri Muktsar Sahib during day, DGP Gupta said. official said 38,160 police personnel in different ranks have been deployed for strict enforcement of curfew.

DGP directed all district police chiefs to ensure that curfew passes are provided on need basis to maintain basic services. He exhorted field police staff to deploy a team of about 50-100 policemen to coordinate supply of food and medicines to people.

He also spoke to chief secretary and DGP of Jammu and Kashmir to facilitate entry of hundreds of goods trucks stranded at Mhopur barrier in Pathankot.

state authorities also released a list of district-wise helpline numbers for public, officials said.

In Mohali, district ministration earlier anunced a relaxation in curfew from 4 pm till 6 pm, allowing people to buy groceries and milk. But orders were later withdrawn.

Earlier in day, re were reports of supply of milk and vegetables getting hit because of restrictions at many places. At several places, including Chandigarh, wore a deserted look because of restrictions being in place. Punjab has reported 29 coronavirus cases till Tuesday evening while Chandigarh has seven confirmed patients.

(Im source - PTI)