Prayagraj: Now, drones to help cops keep an eye on violators during lockdown

PRAYAGRAJ: With Prayagraj residents refusing to learn a lesson and continuing to violate rules during the lockdown, police have constituted 10 special teams which will use five drones to maintain vigil in narrow bylanes of the old city.
Led by a deputy SP-rank police official, these teams would keep an eye on areas like Attarsuiya, Kareli, Mutthiganj, Kydganj, Rajapur, Ganga Nagar, Teliyarganj, Karelabagh, Dariyabad, Meerapur, Karelabagh, Bahadurganj, Salori and Baghara.More than 30 persons were booked for allegedly flouting regulations during the lockdown enforced to curb the spread of novel coronavirus (Covid-19).
Police have also arrested 12 men after lodging seven FIRs under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with violations of section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code.
SSP (Prayagraj) Satyarth Anirudh Pankaj said, “We were receiving reports of Old City residents frequently violating lockdown rules. We will now use five drones to keep an eye on localities in Old City.”
SSP said, “On Friday, two-layer barricading have been put up at prominent crossings, intersections and inter-district borders to check the unnecessary traffic movement.”
On Thursday midnight, police launched a search operation in Khuldabad, Kareliabagh, Atala, Dariyabad , Rajapur, Cantonment and adjoining areas and caught many people sitting outside their homes. They were asked to stay indoors and given a strict warning.
Prayagraj roads continued to wear a deserted look as the nationwide lockdown entered its ninth day. Chemist and grocery shops remained open from 7am to 9pm.
Most Muslims preferred to offer Friday namaz at home. Extra police force was deployed to ensure there was on unrequited movement on streets.
The district administration reiterated that those who have returned from abroad after March 12 to the city must contact Corona Medical and Administrative control rooms for a checkup. It is mandatory for them to get a health checkup. Those who failed to get themselves registered with the control room and are later found to be a suspected Covid-19 patient or to have have come in contact with a confirmed case would be booked.
The numbers for corona medical control room and corona adminstrative control rooms are 0532 - 2266098 and 2266099 and, 0532 2641577 and 2641578 respectively.
Meanwhile, a team of senior police and health department officials inspected Reserve Police Lines to ensure that the cops were practising social distancing.
Meanwhile, Prayagraj Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Friday intensified its sanitisation drive in areas like Ram Bhawan Crossing, Hatia, Bakra Mandi, Maya Press, Kalloo Kachauri Chauraha, Gautam Talkies, Katghar Crossing, Mutthiganj, Bahadurganj, Sulaki Crossing. Five vehicles were deployed for disinfecting these areas. Prayagraj mayor Abhilasha Gupta Nandi also reviewed the sanitisation exercise.