While Phase II of unlocking has just been implemented in Maharashtra, the number of COVID-19 positive cases registered has witnessed a drastic hike. The State Government is making all possible arrangements to bring the economic train back on track. State cops are also working round-the-clock to minimize the risk of such a deadly pandemic.
The Maharashtra Police have collected a whopping fine of Rs 53,06,050 in a single day from violators who are breaching the pandemic law. Since the first lockdown was implemented and till July 3, 2020, the State Police have collected a fine amounting to Rs 10,32,34,611.
“The citizens of Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai were the biggest contributors to these statistics since inter-district and regular movement of people in these cities are high. A lot of people continue to move out of their homes because of some misinformation of the lockdown being lifted,” said Milind Bharambhe, IGP (Law and Order), Maharashtra.
Fines ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 2000 were collected during the lockdown period from people violating Section 188 of the India Penal Code. “We have penalised two-wheelers and four-wheelers exceeding the mandated limit of passengers. The Police have laid done certain rules for citizens to follow,” said a police officer from Mumbai Police. People who are not following government orders and who venture out without valid reasons will be facing such fines, he added.
Pravin Padwal, Additional Commissioner of Police (Mumbai Traffic Police) said, “We take action under Section 179 of the Motors Vehicle Act against those who are violating government orders. We have impounded violators’ vehicles under Section 207 of the Motor Vehicle Act. At the time of releasing the impounded vehicle, we check for any unpaid e-Challan on the vehicle and collect the fine accordingly. We also collect fines from the violator if, during checking, it is found that he has not complied as per traffic rules. This includes PUC renewal, vehicles papers, license and insurance.”
The City and State Police have also filed several cases under Sections 188, 269, 270 and 271 of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Epidemic Act, the Disaster Management Act and Maharashtra COVID-19 Regulation, 2020, for not following movement restrictions and other lockdown orders. Under this, the accused is arrested and released on bail. test Statistics
As per data made available by the State Police Department, as many as 237 police personnel had been tested positive for the coronavirus in the last 72 hours. The total number of active cases of police affected has climbed up to 1064, and 64 policemen have succumbed to the virus.
India is currently the third worst-hit country by COVID-19 and has recorded a total of 6,98,817 infections with 2,53,287 active cases and 19,707 deaths, while 4,24,433 have been cured of the virus as on July 6, 2020. Meanwhile, as on July 5, Maharashtra’s tally has jumped to 2,06,619, with 8822 deaths. The good news is that the State has 1,11,740 cured cases.
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