Mohali cops net Rs 14 lakh fine for no masks in 19 days

By: Piyush Sarna
MOHALI: The Mohali police have challaned 2,879 people for roaming in the district without wearing a mask and have collected Rs 14.39 lakh as fine in only 19 days i.e. from July 1.
Superintendent of police, city, Harvinder Singh Virk, said, “The police are doing their job from day one and have been challaning violators. The public too needs to step up and be vigilant.”
The officials said the police control room was too receiving complaints from people regarding those roaming without mask or not maintaining social distancing in their areas. Earlier, the fine for not wearing a mask was Rs 200, which was later increased to Rs 500.
Starting from May 21, when the police officials started penalising violators for not following instructions, till July 19, a total of 5,535 people have been penalised and the police officials have collected a total of Rs 23.51 lakh as fine.
Officials said shopkeepers in the district are taking every precaution and have installed sanitisers at the entrance of their shops and don’t allow people to enter the shop without a mask.
One of the cops, who remains on duty to find people roaming without mask, said, “People who travel in four-wheelers without wearing masks are the ones who argue the most. They claim that they are of the same family so why should they wear masks as they stay together in one house. They have to follow the norms of the government. Earlier, when the fine was Rs 200, people refrained from arguing, but now that the fine is Rs 500, instead of following the norms, people argue more.”