Figures:
· 130 FIRs registered against violators ofCOVID-19 norms in last 24 hours across Punjab after launch of fresh Covidrestrictions
· 189 owners of Shops, Dhabas, Ahaatas, Hotels,Restaurants, Clubs, booked for flouting number limits and night curfew timingsin Punjab
· One month after launch of Face Mask enforcementdrive, 4.1 lakh people taken for COVID-19 testing, 71422 challaned in Punjab
Chandigarh, April 21: With the Punjab Government havingordered fresh restrictions following the rapid surge in COVID-19 cases, thePunjab Police has fanned out in the field enforcing the various newly announcedrestrictions, including night curfew and number limits on gatherings in publicplaces and homes as well.
The Police have registered at least 130 First InformationReports (FIRs) against the violators of COVID-19 norms across the state in thelast 24 hours.
The Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had onMonday, clamped down with stricter curbs including extension of night curfewtimings by one hour (8pm to 5am), closure of all bars, cinema halls, gyms,spas, coaching centres, sports complexes, with restaurants and hotels to beopened only for takeaway and home delivery from Monday to Saturday besidesbanning the gatherings of more 20 persons including for weddings/cremations.The CM had directed the Punjab Police to ensure strict enforcement of the COVIDrestrictions.
Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Dinkar Gupta saidthat the joint teams of Punjab Police have booked around 189 owners of MarriagePalaces, Malls, Hotels, Restaurants etc for flouting the night curfew timingsand gathering limits since April 18, 2021.
Divulging details regarding the action against prominentestablishments, Spokesperson of Police Department said that the Bathinda Policehave registered a case under the Indian Penal Code and The Disaster ManagementAct against the Manager of Civil Lines Club Bathinda, the Caterer and the hostsfor organising an Engagement Party having more than 20 guests, while, the TarnTaran Police have booked owners of Hotel Sunstar for COVID-19 norms violations.Recently, the SAS Nagar Police had arrested nine people, including a hotelowner in Dhakoli, for organizing a rooftop party at Grand Suites Hotel in thenight with huge gathering and had also booked the owner of AKM Marriage Palacefor holding a function with more than 20 persons in violation of Covidguidelines.
Similarly, the owner of Palm Plaza in Barnala was fined Rs10000, Orbit Resort in Fazilka penalised with Rs 5000 and Sangam Palace inAbohar challaned Rs 10000 for violation of COVID-19 guidelines, and theirOwners and Managers would also be booked and arrested soon.
Notably, the Patiala police have registered a maximum of 45FIRs, including 35 against shop owners, five against Restaurants, four againstDhabas and one against Protestors for violating COVID-19 norms in last 24 hoursfollowed by 17 FIRs by the Jalandhar Commissionerate Police.
The DGP said, as part of the drive to book and arrestpersons found violating the safety protocols & Covid restrictions, thePunjab Police have persuaded over 20241 Face Mask violators to undergo RT-PCRtesting and challaned as many as 2199 people found without face masks duringthe last 24 hours. Since the special drive was started from March 19, 2021, thePunjab Police have taken over 4.1 lakh people for COVID-19 testing besidesfining as many as 71422 people across the state for not wearing face masks.
DGP Dinkar Gupta said that to check the gatherings aroundthe Marriage Palaces, Hotels, Malls etc the Punjab Police have laid around 400special nakas across the state. Police will enforce a zero tolerance policyagainst those found violating the number limit of 20 and 10 relating to socialand other gatherings, he said.
Appealing to the public to strictly adhere to safetyprotocols, curfew restrictions and timings and leave their homes wearing facemasks only, the DGP reiterated that the COVID testing and challaning drive willcontinue to keep the people of Punjab safe from the virus. He added that OpenAir Jails are being set up soon in all districts for the violators.
Meanwhile, the DGP has also warned of stringent againstrumor-mongers who are spreading panic by spreading rumours and fake postsregarding COVID-19 on different social media platforms.