To avert any untoward incident during exchange of old currency notes into new, the police has been asked to maintain strict vigil near banks and other places to maintain law and order. The old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denominations can be changed or deposited at banks /post offices from Thursday.
After the announcement on newcurrency notes caught people by surprise, long queues were seen at ATMs and petrol pumps on Tuesday night. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has urged the Centre to ensure that the decision to demonetise Rs 1,000 and
Rs 500 currency notes did not have an adverse impact on the poor, farmers and villagers.
Yadav also urged the Centre to arrange special camps in
villages for exchanging currency notes saying that banks were not easily accessible in the rural areas.
“DGP Javeed Ahmad has directed all district police chiefs that there might be serious law and order issues after the announcement. Patrolling and visibility (of force) should be ensured at market places, near banks, post offices, ATMs,” PRO to DGP, Rahul Srivastava said in lucknow on Wednesday evening.
Srivastava said that police officers have been directed to talk to trader bodies and petrol pumps and keep a tab on situation in rural areas. Police has also been deployed at petrol pumps to control the crowd.
The PRO also added that as per the data available with the DGP office, 107 cases of fake currency notes were reported in 2015. “These cases involved fake notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denominations. Oft hese 107 cases, 54 cases were registered by the police while banks registered 53 cases. A total of Rs 1,05,57,840 have been recovered in these cases out of which the police recovered Rs 1,02,07,080 and 112 persons were arrested,” he informed.
Srivastava further said, “Till September 30, 2016, the data of recovery of fake currency notes pointed that 117 cases were registered which included 38 registered by the police. A total of Rs 37,29,700 have been recovered out of which the police recovered Rs 32,37,300 and 80 persons were held.”
On Wednesday morning, the situation became difficult for commuters with many petrol pumps closing down claiming that they were out of stock. In shops too, customers were turned away as they were not ready to accept notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations.