Even as the people continue to violate strict curfew rules across the State, the Punjab police has come under fire from all sections for using the force to check the violations.
On Thursday, as many as 170 FIRs, including four against those who violated home quarantined rules, have been registered and 262 persons have been arrested for violating the quarantine and curfew guidelines.
Lashing out, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal expressed his “strong disapproval” of the insensitivity being shown by the Punjab Government in implementing the “constructive measures” to fight coronavirus pandemic.
Reiterating SAD’s full support to all measures of the Union and the Punjab Governments, Sukhbir said that the people of Punjab were not prepared for the sudden curfew and were taken by surprise by its suddenness.
“While I understand the urgency of the matter, the Government needed to ensure its implementation through sensitive and persuasive means rather than use of brute force against those violating curfew, especially against the women. It is against our culture to force women to do sit ups that too by male cops. This is totally unacceptable,” he said.
He added that there are so many psychological, practical and legal means available to ensure effective enforcement of the curfew regulations, and thus “there is no need to humiliate the self-respecting Punjabis who have by and large been cooperating with the government's measures in this direction”.
“Any curfew of such long duration can be effective only with the people’s cooperation. The government must use the media, especially the electronic and online media, to spread awareness rather than panic and frustration among the people. We support the government's efforts but disagree with the methods being adopted. This must change,” he said.
However, he appealed to the people to fully cooperate with the administration in observing curfew regulations. “It is in our own interest to stay at home and look after the elders and children during this challenging period,” he added.
40,153 COPS ON GROUND
A total of 40,153 police employees, in different ranks, have been deployed on ground in various districts or police commissionerates across the State for enforcement of curfew including sealing of affected clusters — Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr) and Jalandhar rural districts — besides maintenance of essential supplies and law and order.
Out of the total, 425 gazetted officers, 54 inspectors, 528 police home guards, besides 1937 volunteers have been deployed across the state.
Since Sunday, a total of 839 FIRs have been registered with 1291 persons being arrested, with Amritsar rural, Tarn Taran, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Mohali topping the list.
PUNJAB POLICE LOGS INTO INNOVATION
Coronavirus has not only brought out the tough side of the Punjab police, but also its innovative capabilities.
Making the best use of its social media profiles to send across the ‘stay at home’ messages, the state police chief Dinkar Gupta has shared interesting GIFs from his official Twitter handle with #PunjabFightsCorona.
Showing why one should stay behind closed doors, DGP shared a tweet with a picture of a rocking chair at one side written “Rest at Home” above it and a picture of a coffin on another with words “Rest in Peace” — sending across a clear message loud and clear.
“You can stay behind closed doors, or below the ground. Choose well,” he tweeted with the gif.
In another tweet, the DGP has shared a gif written “VIRUS” with flashing letter ‘U’, saying “only U can break the chain”. “1 virus. 1.3 billion people. Let’s not give this virus a chance to win. Practice all the safety measures you can,” he wrote.
In fact, the police has also roped in renowned Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh to narrate the story of “Gawaacha Gurbakhsh” (Missing Gurbakhsh), who has returned from Italy and has gone missing, infecting people.
DIAL 112 FOR ASSISTANCE
In need of any curfew-related policing issues, Dial 112 for help. Launching a dedicated number 112, the Punjab Police said that it would work as curfew helpline to address any curfew related policing issues.
Punjab police said that any person could dial 112 for seeking facilities like emergency travel, hospitals, supply of food, groceries, medicines, LPG, hassle-free movement of trucks carrying essential goods, or delivery of goods through e-commerce platform.