People violating lockdown rules will be dealt with strictly: City police Commissioner
City Police Commissioner A K Viswanathan saidcomplaints have been received that many motorists travelfarther under the pretext of buying essentials, even as thestate has effected a lockdown as part of its efforts toprevent the spread of coronavirus.
Chennai has the highest number of coronavirus infectedpersons in Tamil Nadu with 110 patients while the state'soverall tally stands at 621, according to latest governmentdata.
The government had earlier curtailed the businesshours of shops selling essential items such as vegetables by90 minutes after it expressed concern that the lockdown ruleswere not being followed by the public properly.
"Essential commodities will be available in thevicinity, within 1-2 km. People can walk to the shops to buythem," Viswanathan told reporters here, and pointed out thatChief Minister K Palaniswami has also advised in this regard.
Further, as suggested by the government, one can buystocks for a week and should not venture out of their homeseveryday for this purpose, he added.
Palaniswami had on Saturday announced that shopsselling essential items can remain open only from 6 am to 1pm, while earlier they were allowed to function till 2.30 pm.
The government's curbs relating to shops remainingopen was announced after Palaniswami warned of tightening theongoing lockdown on Friday as many were not following theprohibitory orders clamped to implement it.
The state has imposed Section 144 Cr.Pc., which bansthe assembly of more than five persons, to implement thelockdown.
On Tuesday, Viswanathan further said the police hadreceived complaints that many persons travel farther in theirtwo-wheelers under the pretext of buying such essentials.
"We will take strict action against them," he said.
So far cases have been booked against 30,000 personsand 12,000 vehicles have been seized in this connection in thecity, he added.
"People should realise the seriousness (of thesituation) and protect themselves and their families," he saidin an apparent reference to staying indoors.
To a question, he said steps have been taken by theCorporation of Chennai to deliver essential items to peopleresiding in containment areas in the city from where COVID19positive cases have been reported.
Earlier, he gave away hand sanitizers and energydrinks to city police personnel. SA