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With the state government issuing warnings to citizens to follow strict Covid norms or be ready to face the music, a Deoria resident had to pay a heavy price for taking the directives lightly and was fined Rs 10,000 for not wearing a face mask in public for a second time. Earlier, he was fined Rs 1,000 for violating the warning.
Amarjit Yadav of Bariarpur police station area in Deoria, was caught roaming around without a face mask on April 17 and 18 by the police. Station House Officer (SHO) of Lar police station, TJ Singh told local media persons, "On Monday, Amarjit was spotted at the main crossing in Lar without a mask and was fined Rs 10,000 for a second violation. On April 18, he was fined Rs 1,000 and was provided with a mask and warned to put it on for safety."
Interestingly on being stopped by cops, a reluctant Yadav argued that he was fined a day before for Rs 1,000 for not wearing a mask. When police came to know about his offence, under the Covid rules the police fined him Rs 10,000 and handed over the receipt to him. SP of Deoria, Shripati Mishra said that with a sudden rise in Corona cases across the state, the police were trying to implement safety protocols which reported 390 active cases on Monday. "We have formed teams and divided the district into sectors to enforce COVID safety protocol. People not following protocols are first warned and then slapped with a challan of Rs 1,000. If someone flouts norms even after this, a fine of Rs 10,000 is realised from him," he added.
Uttar Pradesh has been badly ravaged by a Corona surge in recent weeks and thousands of new cases weare being reported every day. The UP state has been urging the public to wear masks and maintain physical distance.