KOLKATA: Cops have prosecuted 1,842 people in the city last weekend for not wearing masks properly. About 80% of these special checks have taken place outside the city’s major markets and malls that are now witnessing a steady footfall of shoppers with the festival season barely a month away. The total number of prosecutions, claimed Lalbazar, is one of the highest since May when the second Covid wave hit the city.
According to the figures provided by Lalbazar, total 772 people were pulled up for not wearing masks properly on Friday. On Saturday, this number hovered around 759. Till noon on Sunday, 311 people without masks were prosecuted. Last month, cops had taken action against 220-260 people daily for not wearing masks properly. The number is more than three times that this weekend.
“We found that even till July, people at least had the masks near their chins. But at the beginning of August, we found it missing completely. We have targeted a few places, where there are regular aberrations. This includes the markets and malls, where we are conducting special drives because of the pre-Puja weekend,” said an officer.
A visit to the city’s main markets also shows the prosecutions are unable to instil discipline in people to wear masks.
Lalbazar is now banking on another round of intense campaign before the pujas, even as it has asked cops in certain pockets to step up prosecution. They are planning to using the popular Durga Puja video with the tagline — Ebar pujoy mask must, mathai rakhun safety first — from last year.
At New Market, cops have discontinued arresting the violators and bringing them to the police station. “There is a big crowd due to the festive season and we will continue with the drive. We are distributing masks and setting up kiosks to spread awareness among people,” said an officer. At Gariahat too, cops said they are relying more on campaigning than prosecutions.
