Operation cover-up: Khaki will ensure there are masks on faces, Marshal Law in Bengaluru

Corona having a free run of Bengaluru as people refuse to mask up and maintain physical distance

The government is tightening the screws to contain covid. It has invoked section (4) of the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Ordinance 2020, and contravening it will invite imprisonment for three years and fine of Rs 50,000. Secondly, policemen are being handed Point of Sale (PoS) machines to challan people who are not wearing masks in public.

In addition to the marshals, policemen will be enforcing the mask and social distancing norms as well. Since Tuesday, policemen have been authorised to issue challans and collect fines from people flouting rules in their jurisdictions.


Isha Pant, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Command Centre, said, “On Monday, each law and order police station has been given one PoS machine and trained to use them. Two policemen from every station will be on rounds to penalise people. Sub-inspector level officers have been given charge in all eight police divisions,” said Pant.

A BBMP official said, “With the fine amount increasing to Rs 1,000, BBMP’s marshals were finding it difficult to collect it from people and it often resulted in arguments. If the police start enforcing this rule strictly, people will obey.”

However policemen also say they experience opposition, name dropping and abuses from people who are caught without masks.


Officials said that traffic police have not been given the PoS machines but they are accompanied by BBMP marshals or law and order police who have been trained to use the machines. “Since people often say that they don’t have cash, we have options for all kinds of online transactions and accept payments from all the mobile wallets,” he said.

Violations have decreased

BBMP Chief Marshal Officer Rajbir Singh said that violations have decreased after the government increased fines from Rs. 200 to Rs. 1,000 for not wearing masks and not maintaining social distance in public places.

“Compared to 2,500 violations per day, now we have only about 450 cases per day,” he said. Though the number of cases became lesser by six times, the BBMP collected fines of Rs. 4.5 lakh (per day) at the rate of Rs 1,000 per violation. Previously, the marshals would collect Rs 5.5 lakh as fines per day at the rate of Rs 200 per violation.