16 quarantined foreign nationals in Prayagraj prohibited from leaving country

Kapil Dixit | TNN | Apr 13, 2020, 23:11 IST

Shops shut during the lockdown in a market in Prayagraj on Monday.

PRAYAGRAJ: Police on Monday issued a lookout notice against 16 foreign citizens currently quarantined in camps for Coivd-19 patients and suspected cases, thereby prohibiting them from leaving Prayagraj or country.
The group comprises seven Indonesian nationals who came to Prayagraj after attending the Tablighi Jamaat event — which has been linked to several novel coronavirus cases — in Delhi in March and nine Thai nationals.
A lookout notice or lookout circular (LOC) is a letter used by the immigration department\ police to prevent a person from leaving the city\ state or country.
Police had already seized the passports of the 16 foreign nationals. Earlier this month, a 32-year-old Indonesian who had attended the Markaz conference in Delhi on March 12-13 tested positive for novel coronavirus. He came to Prayagraj on March 22. The condition of the patient was stated to be stable.
Till now, six Covid-19 cases have been reported from Pratapgarh, two from Kaushambi and one from Prayagraj. Meanwhile, more than 34 persons were booked in Prayagraj in the past 24 hours for allegedly violating lockdown guidelines.
Police said they arrested 18 men after lodging six FIRs under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with violations of section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code.
Even as residents stayed indoors because of the lockdown, shops selling essential commodities like medicines, groceries and foodgrains remained open.
SSP (Prayagraj) Satyarth Anirudh Pankaj said, “Six FIRs were registered in different parts of the city like Soroan, Holagarh, Sarayinayat, Kareli, and Dhoomanganj in the past 24 hours in connection with violation of lockdown rules.”
The SSP said that mobile police teams have been pressed into service to check movement of people in Old City. Those found roaming on streets aimlessly were later challaned.“Over 5,770 vehicles were checked and owners of 747 of them were challaned. Police also seized six vehicles during the drive,” Pankaj said.