Over 600 Vehicles Seized for Violation of Ban! ‘Pay Fine & Get Your Vehicles Back’ tell Cops to Owners
Mangaluru: Ever since the district administration and police commissioner had issued strict warnings that no vehicles other than those with passes/permits should be moving on the City streets, but unfortunately, motorists not giving any heed to these orders who were driving or riding were cracked down by the traffic cops, and their vehicles seized. Since three days over 600 vehicles had been seized by the cops for violating the vehicle ban and lockdown orders, and the owners of these vehicles have been booked under Indian Penal Code Section 270 (Malignant Act likely to spread infection of any disease dangerous to life) and Motor Vehicles Act, as per police sources.
Speaking to media, a senior police officer had said, “These vehicles are seized to prevent people from commuting, which can lead to the spread of COVID-19. We had seen people taking joy rides across the City, due to which we have taken action to stop such violators. We have seized over 600 vehicles and slapped fines on the owners under IPC Section 270 and the MVA. We will only release the vehicles once the owners pay the violation fines. It is advisable that everyone stays at home and that they do not roam on the streets aimlessly, and then get caught by us and face the consequences thereafter. It is in the larger interest of society, that the drive of seizing vehicles will continue till the lockdown is in force. But it is nice to note that the seizure of vehicles has resulted in less unnecessary movement of motorists”.
Well said by the police officer, but no matter what, there are a few covidiots who out of ignorance deliberately violate the vehicle ban orders, and get into trouble with the law. Despite the warning given by Police Commissioner that whosoever violates the order, their vehicles will be seized- but quite a few of our Covidiots having paid no heed to the police commissioner’s warning, and who were out there on the streets in their vehicles were crack downed by the cops- and on 3 April nearly 175 vehicles were seized and later released after certain procedures and stern warnings. On 2 April nearly 155 vehicles were seized by cops. But this news didn’t bring change in people, since even on Saturday, 4 April, there ware quite a few cars and two-wheelers moving around until the police started to stop them around 8 am or so, which resulted in police seizing 211 vehicles. And on Sunday, quite a few hundred vehicles were seized, bringing the total of seized vehicles over 600 plus.
Not happy with the attitude of citizens towards the vehicle ban order, Dr Harsha had tweeted “211 vehicles seized for lockdown violations (on Saturday) ..I AM NOT HAPPY .. ARE YOU?? Don’t play with the lives of fellow countrymen.. comply with instructions.. save yourself and Don’t risk others lives to the CORONA pandemic…We will not hesitate to go all the way to enforce…STAY HOME..,”. But will this tweet by the police commissioner bring a change in people’s attitude- I guess not, since day after day, a bunch of vehicles are getting seized for violations.
It is really ignorant on the part of the motorists to roam around the City, even after the ban on vehicle movement was enforced. Like I said earlier in my report, “Namma Janarige Yestu Helidaru Bashe Ella”?- and that phrase still holds good even today. The only way such violations can be brought down provided the cops should enforce the law strictly, and not to take it easy on the violators (like Team Mangalorean has witnessed), and let them go with a warning. Hefty fines and punishment will only lessen these violations by motorists.