Kolkata man defied lockdown, abused cops when stopped; now creating awareness about COVID-19

Kolkata, Apr 17 () A 30-year-old man, who went outdefying the lockdown in Kolkata and when stopped allegedlyabused some policemen, is now taking part in social service bycreating awareness regarding COVID-19 for more hours thanstipulated by a court as a condition for granting him bail, anofficial said on Friday.

The man, a resident of the Karaya area in southKolkata, had ventured out of his home on a two-wheeler onApril 11 and was stopped in the Charu Market area by police,the senior officer said.

He could not give any satisfactory reason fortravelling about seven kilometers from home and also allegedlyabused the officials on duty at the checkpoint, the policeofficer said.

The man was also not carrying the vehicle's papers andtried to escape, according to the charges brought against himby the Charu Market police station, he said.

He was arrested under sections 188 (disobedience toorder promulgated by public servant) and 353 (use of criminalforce on a public servant to deter him from performing duty)of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and produced before amagistrate at the Alipore court here.

The magistrate, while granting bail, directed him toparticipate in social awareness on COVID-19 for two hours aday for a week.

Realising his folly, the man has been going to adesignated police checkpoint in south Kolkata every day at 8am and is performing his duty till 1 pm, well beyond thecourt-mandated two hours a day, the officer said.

He is advising those flouting lockdown rules to abideby the government directives in order to contain the spread ofthe coronavirus, the police officer said. SCH AMRSOM SOM