Weekend curfew: 58 checkposts set up in Dakshina Kannada

MANGALURU: Mangaluru city police and Dakshina Kannada district police have taken additional measures to prevent unnecessary movement of vehicles in the district, during the weekend curfew that began on Saturday.
The city police have set up 36 checkposts in the city police commissionerate jurisdiction, for the strict implementation of weekend curfew. Meanwhile, Dakshina Kannada police set up 22 checkposts, including nine on the Kerala-Karnataka border in the district, to restrict the movement of people and vehicles.
A limited number of private and KSRTC buses plyed on Saturday. Barring shops selling milk, fruits, vegetables, meat and groceries, other business establishments remained closed.
Kukke Subrahmanya, Dharmasthala and other major temples in the district, restricted the entry of devotees during weekend curfew. Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala suspended online bookings for sevas, based on the directions of the state government
Schools, colleges, most government offices and private establishments remained closed. Most of the busy roads in Mangaluru city wore a deserted look. A police team led by DCP (law and order) Hariram Shankar checked the vehicles at various places in the city.
The police issued warnings to commuters in private vehicles, for failing to wear masks. Police also directed bus conductors to not allow passengers to board without wearing masks.
The surveillance at the Kerala border, including Talapady, has been strengthened. The district administration has put up a tent with CCTV cameras, as a part of its surveillance at Talapady. Only those who are travelling due to an emergency, and travellers to the airport were allowed to enter Dakshina Kannada with RT-PCR negative certificates.
Dakshina Kannada District Bus Owners Association president Jayasheela Adyanthaya told TOI that out of 345 city buses, only 50 – 70 plyed on various routes in the city.
“We have already brought it to the notice of the government, about the problems bus owners face due to lockdowns and weekend curfew. We have been operating our buses after paying taxes and insurance in advance. Weekend curfew reduces our daily collection by 50%,” he said.
An official from KSRTC Mangaluru division said only 50% of the buses plyed on various routes in the district. The division operated buses depending on the demand of passengers, an official said.
Mangaluru city police booked 517 cases under the Indian Motor Vehicle Act, 369 mask violation cases and seized more than 110 vehicles, which were later released after paying fines. Meanwhile, Dakshina Kannada police booked 108 cases and Udupi police booked 77 cases for mask violations and seized 10 vehicles.