Jamshedpur, March 31: Acting tough against those violating social distance norms, East Singhbhum police on Tuesday lodged a case against a small time BJP leader and builder Anil Choubey for violation during lockdown while distributing food amongst poor in Sonari on March 29.
The action by the police came two days after the incident following a tweet by the chief minister Hemant Soren and DGP Jharkhand, M. V Rao for strict compliance of lockdown.
CM had tweeted on Tuesday afternoon tagging East Singhbhum DC (Ravi Shankar Shukla), Jharkhand Police and DGP Jharkhand (M. V Rao) that despite repeated public appeals to follow social distancing in these critical times, this is clear violation of all orders. Please initiate necessary action in the matter and including anyone administratively responsible.
The DGP too swung into action and immediately directed on his tweet handle tagging Jamshedpur police to take appropriate action and send him a report with all the details. The DGP had also asked the Jamshedpur police to be proactive to prevent violation of lockdown provision.
Sources in the Sonari police station, associated with the investigation into the case, on condition of anonymity revealed that a city based builder Anil Choubey had arranged to distribute packets containing two kg of rice and dals to poor on March 29 at a function organised near Sardar Akhara in Khuntadih, Sonari. During the distribution, there was huge rush of people that led violation of social distance norms.
Meanwhile, East Singhbhum district administration has gone tough to enforce lockdown in city and outskirts starting from Tuesday. Checking has been intensified at Sidhgora, Baridih, Agrico, Sakchi, Bistupur, Mango, Kadma, Telco, Burmamines, Jugsalai and Sonari.
The district administration has also formed 19 surveillance teams for Jamshedpur, Mango, Jugsalai and 11 blocks of district.
� We are taking every step to ensure that people remain indoors. Though violating the orders are being taken to task. The surveillance teams comprising members from health department, magistrate and local police station officials are visiting houses of each of the over 3,000 migrant labourers and residents who have come from affected parts of India and abroad to see if they are maintaining home quarantine and double check also interact with neighbours of the residents. The team has maintained surveillance of the labourers and other residents for the quarantine period of 14 days,� said an official.
Meanwhile, traffic police jointly with city police could be seen vigilant at most of the commercial hubs seeking information from two-wheelers and four-wheelers about their reason for coming on the road.
�In order to spread awareness we have undertaken public announcement at market areas for staying at home during lockdown and it seems to have significant effect as people in general have stayed indoor,� said the official.