Madhya Pradesh police starts 'home delivery' of FIRs to lockdown violators

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh police have started home-delivery of FIRs. Those booked for violating the lockdown are now getting the challans at their doorstep.

Seoni district, which borders Nagpur, launched this initiative on Monday. Senior SP Kumar Prateek appealed to people to stay indoors and follow lockdown orders, warning that violators will be booked and served challans at home.

Amid the coronavirus crisis, MP police is reaching out to people and delivering medicines and even groceries. Around 100 teams, each comprising two police personnel, are delivering ration and other essentials to people in Indore. But home-delivery of challans is a first in the state. Police in UP’s Muzaffarnagar were the first to start this ‘doorstep delivery’ last week.

“We have registered six FIRs on the basis of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system on CCTV cameras installed all over the city. Vehicle owners found on the streets without any reason are being booked and a copy of the FIR is being delivered at their residential addresses,” said the SP.

“We are monitoring traffic from the control room. Elderly people, patients and those we can figure out as essential service providers or moving out in unavoidable situations, are being exempted,” said the officer.

All six have been booked under section 188 of IPC — disobeying a government order — which includes a month-long jail term. “We will take further action under Motor Vehicles Act,” said the SP.

The Union home ministry had directed states and Union territories to take stern action against lockdown violators. Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla has written to all chief secretaries that violators should be booked under IPC and the Disaster Management Act, 2005.