6,000 held since lockdown, half in Ghaziabad were out for booze

Shikha Salaria & Avishek Kumar Dubey | TNN | Updated: Apr 25, 2020, 12:05 IST

Image used for representational purpose only

NOIDA/GHAZIABAD: More than 6,000 people have been arrested in Noida and Ghaziabad for lockdown violations, according to police department. While 3,833 people were booked and 3,348 arrested in Noida since March 24, in Ghaziabad, over 2,700 people have been arrested during the same period.
“More than 50% of those arrested had come out looking for gutkha or alcohol. Most violations were seen in Loni, Sahibabad, Muradnagar and Vijay Nagar area,” said a senior police officer in Ghaziabad.
Of the 987 FIRs in Noida, five were under the Essential Commodities Act where shopkeepers were found overcharging and three people were arrested in this connection. However, since courts are shut, most of those arrested have been let off on personal bonds.
Additional DCP (law and order) Ashutosh Dwidevi, Noida, said: “Most people have been told not to repeat the act or they will be sent to jail and have to apply for bail. Cases have been initiated against each person and when the courts re-open, they will be summoned.”
In Ghaziabad, 563 FIRs were lodged and 2,719 people have been arrested in the past one month for lockdown violations. Police said, 993 vehicles have been seized till April 24.
Kalanidhi Naithani, SSP, Ghaziabad, said: “Residents are also supporting the police. I am requesting people to stay in their houses and come outside only for emergencies.”
In Greater Noida, on Friday, 16 people from two families in Badalpur were booked for lockdown violations. Problem started when some members of one family allegedly passed casteist remark on a couple living in the neighbourhood. “Initially, there was an argument. Later, it turned violent,” said Rajesh Kumar Singh, DCP (zone 3).
In another case in Greater Noida, seven people were arrested for assembling at a place to sell chicken in Rampur market on Friday. Subhashish Das, Monazir, Mustakeem, Nasir, Munazir, Ajay, Karan, all from Beta II police station area, were waiting for a supplier to hand over chickens to them when they were caught.