With apparent evidence that the Government meant business in implementing the “broken lockdown” the Bengal Police on Thursday ensured a complete closure of the State arrestingabout 650 people from various parts of Kolkata for breaking the lockdown protocols.
Bengal entered into a second phase of lockdown which will entail twice-a-week closure of business and offices save essential services. State will remain closed on Saturday too in this week. In the next week Wednesday will be a lockdown day.
The police were seen caning people who had aimlessly ventured out of their houses not only in Kolkata but in districts also. People were either sent back home or cases were registered against them before they were taken into custody. About 350 people were penalized for not wearing or “half-wearing” masks, sources said.
Apart from reinstituting twice-a-week lockdown the Government has been continuing with lockdown in extended containment zones. This apart, full one-week lockdown has been declared in a number of municipalities like Barasat, Bongaon, Baduria, Barrackpore, Baranagar in North 24 Parganaas district which is second to Kolkata in terms of severity of infections.
A week-long lockdown has also been imposed in Burdwan corporation area, Bolpur and Birbhum municipal areas, sources said.