As many as 466 morning walkers were rounded up in various parks across Chandigarh on Monday morning, in a special drive carried out to nab people disobeying curfew orders.
In view of Covid-19 outbreak across the country, curfew was imposed in Chandigarh on March 24 to ensure social distancing.
“During the special drive conducted by Chandigarh Police for the enforcement of curfew, a total of 120 parks were checked thoroughly and 466 persons were rounded up. Moreover 182 violators were arrested and 56 FIRs were registered against them for disobeying curfew orders,” said a spokesman.
FIRs were registered under Section 188 IPC (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) for violating curfew orders and not wearing masks as made mandatory in Chandigarh, the spokesman said.
After receiving complaints about morning and evening walkers thronging the parks even during curfew period, the Chandigarh Administration had directed the UT Police to take action against them.
Giving details, the spokesman said that 215 persons were nabbed in central division, 142 in east division and 109 in south division. A person who was out for a walk alongwith his dog was also rounded up while the Police had allowed the family to take the dog alongwith them, the spokesperson said.
He said that even after repeatedly spreading awareness and warnings, some people are still found violating curfew orders. They were venturing out of their houses for morning walk in various parks.
The UT Police will continue to scrupulously check the morning and evening walkers and action will be taken against those who will not follow the norms and guidelines of curfew, the spokesman added.
From March 23 till Monday evening, a total of 12959 persons have been rounded up for violating curfew orders in the city. A total of 6473 vehicles have been detained, out of which 3768 were impounded.