Curd, wheat and whatnot: Joyriders in Hyderabad cite frivolous reasons to go out
Hyderabad: People in the city seem to be ‘enjoying’ driving on the empty roads during the Covid-19 lockdown period. Most of them, unmindful of the alarming increase in the number of coronavirus positive cases, are giving absurd reasons to step out of their homes for a joy ride.
Ironically, many have been flashing a doctor’s prescription when stopped by the police manning the streets. More bizarre is that some are travelling long distances for a packet of curd, wheat flour or even boric acid used to play carrom.
Although cops have been registering 12,000 cases on an average every day, it is no deterrent to the joy-riders. More so, police personnel were roughed up in the Old City on Friday when the locals were asked to maintain social distance.
"We have been toiling hard to prevent movement of citizens. However, 99 per cent of them are armed with a medical prescription and get into confrontations when asked to stop at the temporary check post”, said a police official near Jubilee Bus Station (JBS) in Secunderabad.
He said that a couple on a two-wheeler was in a hurry to get a packet of curd from Uppal since ration shops and super markets nearer home were running out of stock.
Though police mandate that two persons should not travel on two-wheelers, many care a hoot.
A person, accompanied by an eight-year-old, said that he was rushing to a pharmacy near Clock Tower to purchase medicine for his child. When he was caught at the check post a little later, cops were shocked to learn that he had gone to purchase boric acid as his child was feeling bored during the lockdown period.
Police at checkpoints near RTC crossroads, Liberty Circle, Tarnaka, Habsiguda, Musheerabad and several other places said that people have been stepping out like any other normal day. The helplessness of the police is that everybody is citing medical reasons for venturing out.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, city police commissioner Anjani Kumar said that it has become an even more herculean task to contain people than checking the spread of coronavirus.
"We have been booking 12,000 cases on a daily basis for violation of Covid-19 guidelines. People in Old City roughed up a constable when they were urged to maintain social distance. Awareness is the only way forward to contain the virus and I urge the media to publicise about the coronavirus spread," he added.
