Ranchi: The Jharkhand government enforced a complete lockdown in the state for 38 hours starting from 4 pm on Saturday till 6 am of Monday after the public was found violating the SOPs on Covid-appropriate behaviour during relaxations of the weekly lockdown.
Following the order for a complete lockdown, all 24 districts in the state have started deploying security forces at strategic areas.
In Ranchi, several police teams were deployed across the city on Saturday to enforce the lockdown rules.
DSP (Ranchi sadar) Prabhat Barwar said, “The police teams have been briefed about the provisions of the lockdown and anyone found violating the rules will be booked under relevant laws.” On Wednesday, the Jharkhand government issued an order for a complete weekend lockdown between June 12 and June 14 and extended the ongoing health safety week, which has been in effect from April 22, till June 16.
The weekend lockdown will extend to grocery stores, vegetable and fruit shops and meat shops, which were allowed to open till 2 pm throughout the week since the partial lockdown started.
All police officers said they are confident of enforcing the lockdown completely while also pointing out that people, in general, are obeying the rules.
Barwar said there are a few sensitive areas where they have to be strict.
Around 95 places have been identified as sensitive in Ranchi based on an area’s heavy flow of traffic and its past records of frequent lockdown violation.
The Ranchi police are planning to intensify their checking at prominent crossings.
DSP (city) Deepak Kumar said, “Force, persuasion and other methods will be used to enforce the lockdown.
The district administration and the police have carried out public awareness programmes on the issue.
I have informed the people through loudspeakers at various places, including Bahu Bazaar and Chutia area.” SP (rural Ranchi) Naushad Alam held a meeting with his subordinates to brief them on ways to implement the order.
Meanwhile, city residents were seen buying essential items, including vegetables in huge quantities, in the morning and as soon as the lockdown started from 4 pm, traders downed their shutters.