Police hand over Rs 2.6 crore fine collection to health dept

Times News Network
Ludhiana: The Ludhiana Police has handed over to the Punjab health department Rs 2.60 crore collected in fines from the pandemic rule violators.
The amount was collected from March 23 to August 18. The maximum amount (Rs 2.52 crore) was collected from those not wearing a mask.
Commissioner of police Rakesh Agarwal said, “Since March 23, the city police have issued 56,098 challans to violators for different offences, like not wearing a mask, spitting at public places and failing to ensure physical distancing. The collection of Rs 2.60 crore has been deposited in the account of Punjab health department. A notification was issued by the state government for this. Challan books were given to us by the health department.”
While the police department is collecting fines for the health department, the other departments are not doing it.
Regional Transport Authority’s Amarinder Singh Malhi said, “We are not depositing fine collection in the health department account.”
For not wearing a mask, 53,605 people were challaned, 301 criminal cases registered and 370 people were arrested.
For spitting at public places, 2,196 people were challaned and Rs 2.26 lakh collected in fine.
For ignoring social distancing norm, 256 people were challaned, a fine of Rs 4.96 lakh collected, 191 criminal cases registered and 250 offenders arrested.
So far, the Ludhiana Police has registered three criminal cases, arrested two persons, issued challans to 41 and collected Rs 77,500 in fine for home quarantine rule violation. Five criminal cases were registered and four people arrested for allowing gathering of more than 30 people in wedding functions. One case was registered for letting more than 20 people gather at a ‘bhog’ ceremony. Besides, 417 criminal cases were registered and 471 people arrested for violation of night curfew. As many as 23 cases were registered for protests by political parties.