Assam police to reach out to distressed senior citizens during lockdown: DGP

Guwahati, Apr 15 () Acting on Prime Minister NarendraModi's "Saptapadi" (seven steps) advisory, the Assam police onWednesday promised to provide assistance to senior citizens inprocuring medicines and delivering it at their doorsteps inpolice vehicles, besides taking them out of homes in case ofemergency. Police personnel in every districts have been told toreach out to the elderly population in distress duringlockdown necessitated by coronavirus, state's Director Generalof Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said. A helpline number will be given to the public forassisting aged citizens facing problems while staying indoorduring the shutdownn, he told reporters here. Taking care of elders formed an important component of thePM's "Saptapadi" in his televised address to the nation onTuesday for which he sought support of the people. The PM inhis address had announced extending nationwide lockdown tillMay 3 to check spread of the virus infection.

"Police in every districts, particularly in Guwahati,will procure the senior citizens' medicines and deliver it attheir homes in our vehicles. Any elderly person facingdifficulty and needing to go anywhere for emergency purposeswill be taken by the police during the lockdown", Mahantasaid.

Stating that police will strictly enforce PrimeMinister's directions for firmly maintaining the lockdowncurbs, he said, "I request the public not to move out in theirprivate vehicles during this period".

The police will permit only those essential servicesvehicles which have valid authorisation documents likeidentity cards, authorisation letter/slip, passes by AssamState Disaster Management Authority, he said. "We have noticed that people with fake documents roamaround in their private vehicles for personal work. Policewill now be strict in not allowing vehicles movement withoutvalid authorisation documents", he added.

Police will take stringent steps against establishmentsand services exempted from the lockdown restrictions if theyfail to observe social distancing, the DGP added. He said they have written to the Transport department tostart a limited taxi service for convenience of public to moveout in case of emergency without using their own vehicles. ESBSNS SNS