MARGAO
The Margao police are back on the roads, exactly after a year the men-in-uniform had descended on the streets to enforce the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
Margao police teams made their presence felt in the markets as well as in Navelim area to spread awareness amongst the people on the need to observe social distancing and to wear masks at public places.
Take note, the policemen have made their presence felt only with the megaphones, with senior police officials saying the day is not far away when the men-in-uniform will carry challan books to bring the violators to book.
Margao Police station in-charge, PI Sachin Narvekar said teams of the Margao police descended in the Margao markets on Wednesday, spreading awareness amongst the residents and the visitors in the commercial capital on the need to maintain social distancing and wearing of masks. “This awareness program will take place across the length and breadth of the city, beginning from Wednesday. We have set up teams for this special purpose”, he said.
While PI Narvekar said the police has still not received the communique from the police higher-ups on the enforcement of the social distancing and mask wearing, sources in the police department said the men-in-uniform are indeed gearing up to reign in on the violators in the near future.
“The punitive action will follow the awareness programme. We are make the citizens aware on the need to maintain social distancing and wear masks in public places”, remarked a senior police officer.
The police drive assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of flagrant violation of the social distancing norms, with citizens in general throwing the COVID safety norms to the winds.
The market places are the most affected with hardly anyone complying with the COVID guidelines, despite the fact that COVID cases have been on the rise again in the state.
Sources said that migrant workers, including labourers, besides visitors and tourists in the commercial capital have been violating the COVID safety norms with impunity, as they have been emboldened by the absence of punitive action by the law enforcing agencies.
