Published on March 23, 2020
AHMEDABAD: City police has been roped in to enforce home quarantine of 900-odd persons in Ahmedabad by the city administration and state health department. City police officials said that three cases have already been filed for flouting the norms.
Ashish Bhatia, city police commissioner, told media on Monday that the city police took cognizance of mass public gathering at 5pm in Khadia and have registered an offence against 40 persons from areas such as Raval sheri, Bhav ni pol, Fafda ni pol and Parabdi ni pol among others.
“We request citizens to stay at home and avoid any commute if not absolutely necessary. We have set up police station-wise check points that would enforce CrPC Section 144 that ban assembly of more than four persons,” said Bhatia.
The police commissioner added that they have got the list of the 900-odd persons who are under home quarantine in the city. “Police mobile teams would visit these residences and check on the persons. If they are found flouting rules, they would first be counselled and if they refuse to obey, health department would be roped in and legal action would be initiated against them,” he said.
Ahmedabad police in past two days have already filed three FIRs in Ghatlodia, Odhav and Maninagar for flouting the home quarantine rules.
Bhatia said that complying with the state government rules, all the public transport means – auto rickshaws, cabs and public transport buses – would be discontinued till midnight of March 25. City traffic branch officials are already impounding vehicles that are flouting the rules, he said. He added that police are also enforcing shutting down of the non-essential services based on the state government directives.
“We are booking persons under IPC Section 188 (for flouting CrPC Section 144) and Section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. We are also taking action under provisions of laws such as Shops and Establishments Act,” said Bhatia when questioned about under which sections city police have initiated action.
He added that they would ensure safety of the senior citizens in the city. “A large number of senior citizens are registered with city police. The SHE teams of city police would check on them and would also inform and educate them about Covid-19. We are also working with AMC in form of joint enforcement teams (JET) to prevent public spitting,” said Bhatia.
City police are already deployed outside multiple government-run quarantine facilities in the city.
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