Soon after being sworn in as the Chief Minister for fourth time late on Monday, Shivraj Singh Chouhan after taking stock of Corona scare situation in the State during midnight ordered clamping curfew in Jabalpur and State capital Bhopal.
The administrative officers had briefed the Chief Minister of widespread breach of preventive guidelines in various cities including Bhopal and Jabalpur prompting Chouhan to take a strict action.
Jabalpur, which had reported six positive cases of Novel Corona virus till now and Bhopal with one case had reported large scale violations of probations ordered by administration. Superintendent of Police Jabalpur Amit Singh had on Monday lashed out at locals for making a mockery of probative guidelines as people were venturing out in the city in large numbers. He had also threatened legal action against such offenders.
Similar was the case in Bhopal where the senior officers saw large scale violation of section 144 of CrPC especially in Old city Bhopal. At several places in state capital, locals were seen arguing with the police personnel who were trying to restrict their movement with heavy barricading across the city.
Taking into consideration all these facts, Chouhan sought public support to ward off coronavirus and urged them to practice social distancing strictly. The lockdown would be imposed in stringent manner but the administration would ensure that essential commodities reach commoners in the hour of crisis.
Accordingly, the Bhopal collector Tarun Pithode issued orders for clamping curfew in the district sealing borders with immediate effect. Five or more people can’t gather at any place and all government and private establishments would remain closed.
Several private eateries and restaurants for breaching preventive measures in Jabalpur, Bhopal, Indore and at several other cities on Monday.
The administration had booked close to 200 persons for taking part in processions at around 5pm during the Janta curfew in Indore. The administration has cancelled the driving licences of the offenders and has initiated legal action against those who were revelling at Rajwada and Patnipura areas in Indore on last Sunday.
Ten districts are under lockdown in Madhya Pradesh. With six Corona positive cases and one in Bhopal, the total number of positive cases is seven across Madhya Pradesh.
As part of measures to identify affected people, till March 23, total 1269 travellers have been screened and 758 have been kept in isolation. In all 100 samples have been forwarded to various labs till now, a state government communique said. The state government has also started a toll-free helpline 104 for offering advisories and information on Novel Corona virus.