‘No excuse’: Assam police collect Rs 60,000 for not wearing masks in single day

Ensuring that COVID-19 precautionary measures are taken seriously, the Hailakandi police in Assam collected Rs 60,000 as fine from over 100 offenders for not wearing face masks when out in public on May 27^th, 2020.

Of the total amount, Hailakandi Police Station realised Rs. 11,500, Algapur PS Rs. 6,000, Katlicherra PS Rs. 4,500, Lala PS Rs. 21,500, Panchgram PS Rs. 6,000 and Ramnathpur PS Rs. 10,500.

Informing this, the district Superintendent of Police, Pabindra Kumar Nath said, “In the greater interest of public safety, the Hailakandi district police was constrained to become ruthless in collecting fine at the rate of Rs 500 each from people of various categories who brazenly defied the government's standing order by not wearing masks or face cover even after repeated warnings.”

Also read: Assam: 15 new COVID-19 cases together, state tally reaches 798

The district police chief said that the drive would be further intensified in the greater interest of keeping the people at large away from the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

Nath appealed to those segments of society who are still not wearing masks or face cover to fall in line for their own safety and for their near and dear ones. "We are up against an invisible force that has wreaked havoc globally and the best way to deal with it is to wear mask or face cover and to maintain social distancing. Sooner those sections of society who are not paying heed to the repeated warnings must realise that what they are doing is fraught with serious consequences not only for themselves but also for their dear and dear ones," quipped Nath.

The Assam Police has so far collected around Rs 30 lakh as fine from those not wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The Central government has made it compulsory to wear masks or face cover immediately after the worldwide outbreak of the lethal coronavirus. Taking a serious note on the violation of Health Ministry guidelines, the Assam government has empowered the police department to impose fine on those not wearing masks.

The virus has infected 1.58 lakh and claimed over 4000 across the country. Mahrashtra has registered highest case in the country with 56,948 people infected followed by 18,545 in Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, in Assam, a total of 798 people have been infected and four died due to the infection.

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