Uttar Pradesh: Prayagraj first in fining people for not wearing mask in public

PRAYAGRAJ: The Sangam city has topped the chart of people fined for not wearing masks while Fatehpur district registered the highest number of cases in the category of people fined for spitting in public places since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Prayagraj range.
Police took action against over 3.82 lakh people found not wearing masks and realized Rs 4.59 crore in the form of fine from defaulters in the four districts of the range comprising Prayagraj, Pratapgarh and Kaushambi and Fatehpur till June 1.
As per statistics revealed by the range police on Tuesday, the highest number of challans (2,65,580) against the violators were issued in the Prayagraj district, followed by Pratapgarh (50,919), Kaushambi (35,562) and Fatehpur (30,236).
Similarly, in the Prayagraj district, police realized the highest amount as penalty or fine (Rs 3.19 crore) followed by Pratapgarh ( Rs 53.68 lakhs), Kaushambi (Rs 53.02 lakh), and Fatehpur (Rs 32.85 lakh).
On an average, around 200-250 people were fined by police in Sangam city every day for not wearing masks in public places and police realised Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 from them.
Inspector general of police (Prayagraj range) K P Singh told TOI, “A total of 3,82,297 people were fined in four districts of the range for not wearing masks till June 1. Also, as many as 3,771people were challaned for spitting in public places or roads, including Prayagraj (85), Kaushambi (751), Fatehpur ( 2810) and Pratapgarh (125).”
Cops also realized Rs 3.80 lakh from defaulters on the charges of spitting in the open or roads and public places, including Prayagraj (Rs 10,500), Fatehpur (Rs 2.81 lakh), Kaushambi (Rs75,800)and Pratapgarh (Rs 12,500).
The IG said, “Following relaxation in corona curfew in four districts of range, we have been using public address system (PAS) to appeal to people to wear masks and follow Covid-19 protocol to check any further spread of the disease.”
He added that police have been taking up the drive against people spotted not wearing masks in every nook and corner of the four districts of the range and penalised the violators on the spot.