Peth locals barricade little lanes, keep cops out to meet maskless

█ Alarming trend inside containment zone…

Fearing infection, irate old city resident writes to CP to take action against irresponsible culprits in his area; cops to step up patrolling from Monday onwards, eradicate this trend

Just about a week ago, as the number of positive cases of the novel coronavirus disease began spiking ominously in the city, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has swooped in and decided to seal off a substantial chunk of the city, in an effort to form a containment zone for the infection. Several areas from Maharshi Nagar to Regional Transport Chowk came under this ambit — including the densely populated Peths of Pune, from which the most number of COVID-19 patients were being reported — and the aim was to stop the spread into other parts of the city.

However, it appears that deep within this segregated zone, a new hotbed for dissemination is slowly forming internally, thanks to some irresponsible citizens.

From midnight of April 6, given the ongoing outbreak, PMC commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad had issued orders and directed local police stations to enforce a containment plan, thereby sealing off a majority of Peths. Except essential services, no movement was allowed in and out. But taking advantage of the containment status, several residents of areas like Kasba Peth, Narayan Peth, Mangalwar Peth, Ganesh Peth and more have started barricading the small network of inside lanes that are characteristic of these old city areas, by placing bamboo sticks and benches tied with rope.


This restricts any cops from patrolling the area, and in the absence of police presence or that of other civic officials, the same residents can be seen roaming around freely in groups — and without masks. People also gambol out collectively in the name of accessing essential services.

Alarmed that this may cause infections in other people of the locality, Kasba Peth resident Tejas Tikhe, who works as an administrative executive at a private company, has on Saturday approached Pune police commissioner (CP) K Venkatesham and the senior police inspector in-charge of Faraskhana police station, asking for a solution.

In his complaint submitted, Tikhe said, “Roads linking to Peth areas have been barricaded by police as a precautionary measure. Internal roads were also barricaded to stop any vehicular movement. This move restricted people from moving to other parts of the city. Those who were seen roaming aimlessly were prosecuted. However, since the last couple of days, locals have started barricading their own narrow lanes to avoid entry by outsiders. These blocks are created in such a way that no one can move them. As a result, people from outside can’t enter and taking advantage, the same local residents are roaming freely without following any social distancing norms. No patrolling is taking place, letting them remain without masks and keep gathering. What if there is any medical emergency? This unwanted barricading may turn into a life-threatening exercise.”

On the condition of anonymity, another resident said, “Since the area is sealed off, health surveyors of PMC are also reluctant to enter. The aim of making Pune free of the coronavirus is certainly getting defeated in its old city localities. This is the scenario across Guruwar Peth, Shukrawar Peth, Ganesh Peth, Bhavani Peth, Kasewadi, Ghorpade Peth, Mominpura, Nana Peth, Raviwar Peth and Rasta Peth. Moreover, the population in all these localities is dense.”

Prodded about this development, Ashish Mahadalkar, assistant commissioner of Kasba-Vishrambaug ward office of PMC, clarified, “There are no instructions to close such inside lanes. We will be sending our team to verify ground realities. From our end, no such orders were issued.”

Similarly, when questioned by Mirror, deputy commissioner of police (DCP-Zone II) Swapna Gore said, “We never told anyone to do such internal barricading. But, if people are still roaming around inside the lanes, then they will face strict action under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). We have already entered into the red zone of this pandemic crisis. Locals need to understand their responsibility at such a critical stage. We all are fighting for a cause together. This carelessness of citizens will defeat the purpose. Cops cannot keep watch on each lane and each individual. From Monday onwards, we will keep patrolling such areas. Those found indulging in such violations face criminal cases.”