Manipur police collects Rs 1.45 crore fine for violating COVID norms across State

IMPHAL: Manipur police has collected Rs 1.45 crore as fine from people for violating the COVID-19 guidelines across the State.

The Manipur State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has issued COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions like compulsory wearing of masks in public areas, no spitting in public and maintaining social-distancing norms after the first coronavirus case was detected in the State in March.

The Inspector General of Police (Operations) E Priyo Kumar Singh said in a release that while a cumulative number of 1,07,362 violators were detained, as many as 51,850 vehicles were detained since March 2020. A sum of Rs 1,45,48,880 was collected as fine from people for violating the COVID-19 guidelines. Thoubal district reported the highest number of violators during the period with 45,456 individuals and 17,379 vehicles detained from whom Rs 38,95,640 was collected as fine.

Strict penalties have been imposed against individuals who have failed to wear masks, maintain social distance and spitting in public areas. The State has so far reported 28,096 COVID-19 cases till Tuesday with 26,521 having recovered from the disease, said COVID-19 Common Control Room.

The State already has 1,222 Coronavirus cases while 3,53 people have died of the disease. During the initial stage of the pandemic in the State, violators were produced before the Executive Magistrate for collection of fines. On defying the curfew, the officials said the violation was reported earlier also and police could collect Rs 1 lakh daily as fines on an average.

Local youths were extending cooperation to the police. The youths had erected bamboo fences and dug up roads to prevent violators. Most of the detained youths claim that they had come out to buy medicines or for other urgent works. (Agencies)

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