Mumbai Police prevents travel far from home for non-essential activities

Mumbai: Police in Mumbai have, in keeping with their recent 2 km-diktat, issued a fresh order prohibiting till mid-July movement of people far beyond their neighbourhood for non-essential activities.

“Movement of persons for non-essential activities like visit to shops, markers, barber shops, spas, saloons, beauty parlours, outdoor physical activities etc shall be permitted within the nearby/neighbourhood area only. Long distance travel for non-essential items will not be permitted,” read the prohibitory order issued on Wednesday by the Mumbai Police.

Mumbai Police had started enforcing the 2 km rule on Sunday saying all vehicles that ply in areas away from home without valid reasons would be impounded. The latest order ramped up the list of restrictions for travel outside a 2km radius.

“Outdoor movement for the purpose of exercise is strictly restricted to open spaces within a radius of 2km from place of residence. Movement beyond 2 Km is permitted only for attending office or medical emergencies,” the Sunday order had said.

Also, the movement of one or more persons in the city for non-essential activities would be restricted between 9 pm to 5 am.

The new order would will be in effect till July 15, police said, adding further that “any person contravening the order shall be punishable under section 110 of the Indian Penal Code .”

The order invoked section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to prohibit presence or movement of four or more persons in public places or gatherings including at religious places, subject to certain conditions.

In the month of June, Mumbai Police has registered over 24000 cases for violations of prohibitory orders, of which over 14,000 were arrested and subsequently released on bail.