Lockdown: Day of confusion, cajolery and arrest

Cities across India wore a deserted look on Tuesday (March 24), a day after 30 states and Union territories, on the direction of the central government, announced a complete lockdown in at least 548 districts of the country till March 31 in view of the coronavirus situation. State police forces, however, on Monday had a hard time enforcing rules and cajoling public to stay at home.

The states and Union territories under complete lockdown include Delhi, Chandigarh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Gujarat, Karnataka and Assam among others. A partial lockdown has been implemented in 58 districts of three states – Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Reports say only Mizoram and Sikkim are yet to enforce a lockdown.

India on Monday, reported its ninth death due to COVID-19 while the number of positive cases rose to 471.

Bus, metro and train services across the country came to a halt following the lockdown orders. The Centre which had earlier closed the airports for international flights, imposed a ban on domestic flights too. However, goods trains and cargo flights will be operational.

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On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, taking stock of the pilot lockdown of Sunday aka Janata curfew, had said that not many people are taking it seriously and urged the state governments to strictly enforce the rules. The state governments have been thereby asked to take legal action against those who violate rules of the lockdown or curfews.

People related to essential and emergency services like doctors, patients going to hospitals and media personnel were, however, allowed to move.

Curfews and arrests

Curfew has been declared in several states including Punjab, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Uttarakhand, with the governments warning stern actions against rule breakers.

State police departments booked and arrested several people across the country for disobeying lockdown rules on the first day.

In Delhi, police on Tuesday morning cleared the Shaheen Bagh protesters from the site, after the state government’s requests to them to call off the agitation did not elicit any response.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, police in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh circulated pictures of rule breakers on social media with messages on Monday.

At least 14 people were arrested in Jaipur for allegedly violating lockdown norms and spreading rumours on social media.

In many cities, police put up barricades at vital city squares and apprehended or detained people who flouted rules. Residents were, however, allowed to buy essential goods and avail health services.

The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday night closed the Yamuna Expressway, a high speed multi-lane connecting Delhi with Agra and Uttar Pradesh in a bid to seal its borders. The expressway, however, will remain open for emergency services, said Rajesh Singh, deputy commissioner of police, Greater Noida.

In Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday warned violators of stern action after many people ignored instructions to stay at home on the first day and large crowds were seen at interstate bus terminals and other places despite prohibitory orders, sparking concerns about the spread of coronavirus.

Similar warnings were given by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. In Punjab, police reportedly made violators do sit-ups as punishment and clicked their pictures. Officials in the state reportedly had a tough time explaining people about the lockdown and why they should follow it.

Uttarakhand: Police in Karanprayag, Chamoli district make people get clicked with pamphlets reading 'I'm enemy of society; I won't stay home' if they are found violating
lockdown. #Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/vBCkJcEm5Y

— ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2020

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Odisha, which is under a partial lockdown, witnessed public defying curbs and hitting the streets in the districts of Khurda, Cuttack, Bhadrak and Jajpur. The Odisha government has ordered a lockdown of five districts and eight towns till March 29.

In Maharashtra, police lodged 31 cases against people who broke rules.

In Uttar Pradesh, as many as 200 cases were filed against 1,000 people across 16 districts for breaking rules.

Curfew was imposed in several districts of northeastern states including Meghalaya and Nagaland. The Meghalaya government on Monday shut down 17 government departments till March 31 and imposed curfew in two districts in view of the coronavirus outbreak, officials said.