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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\nKOLKATA: Police on Wednesday, the third of the biweekly lockdown days, kept a hawk eye on the city’s lanes and bylanes that are notorious for violating shutdown protocol and moved in to book scores of people who stepped out to send home a stern message that any breach will not be tolerated on these days.
Using drones to carry out surveillance from the air, teams of policemen moved into lanes to crack down on those flouting lockdown norms. Most of the violations happened in slums as well as mixed neighbourhoods in Rajabazar, Peyarabagan, Park Circus, Beliaghata, Joramandir, Garden Reach and Dhakuria.
Lanes off VIP Road that have also witnessed violations in the past two complete lockdown days witnessed intensified police patrol with Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Mukhesh Kumar, accompanied by a large team, raiding several alleys and lanes.
The early vigil and prosecutions in Kolkata Police and Bidhannagar Commissionerate areas saw the lanes clear out before mid-morning and it stayed that way till late evening. In Kolkata, police either arrested or prosecuted over 1,054 people for breaking lockdown norms. In Bidhannagar Commissionerate area, 72 persons were booked in areas across Baguiati, Kestopur and New Town and 15 vehicles were seized.
Policemen from both jurisdiction said lockdown compliance had improved and hoped there would be complete compliance when the next lockdown happens on August 5.
\u201cLast Thursday, when the first complete lockdown happened, we had arrested 886 people till midnight. There were fewer violations on Wednesday. The number of cars on the road was also less,” an officer said.
In Bidhannagar Commissionerate area, all vehicles were stopped and the occupants questioned. Those who failed to come up with valid reasons were arrested.
Some though alleged over-zealousness on the part of police in enforcing the lockdown. Relatives of patients complained they were not allowed to visit hospitals. Even a cancer patient complained he had not been allowed to go to the hospital for a chemo session.
A senior police officer at Lalbazar said the instances would be abberations as many people had been allowed to travel if they cited valid and pressing reasons. \u201cPeople can contact Lalbazar directly and seek permission,\u201d said an officer. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n