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Policing in the midst of pandemic

It is up to the police to enforce the lockdown in its true spirit and they are on the job as always.

By Siddharth Rao

Updated On - 21 May 2021, 12:22 AM

Policing in the midst of pandemic — Police checking vehicles during lockdown hours at Erragada. Photo: Surya Sridhar

Hyderabad: Whether it is a pandemic or rains and floods, the first frontline warriors to reach the spot, and most of the time, stay put on the ground, are the police. And like during the lockdown last year, it is no different during the second wave either. It is up to the police to enforce the lockdown in its true spirit and they are on the job as always.

According to Traffic Inspector Pavan Kumar, seen handling the checkpoint at Nagole, most of the vehicular traffic post 10 am are the ones with official permits to commute, like emergency vehicles, delivery executives and so on.

“A majority of vehicular traffic has valid permits and we verify them before letting them through. We also make sure that those with medical reasons pass through without any hassle,” says Pavan Kumar, adding, “While we also give a slight buffer time after 10 am, for people to reach their destinations, we also advise them to plan their activities accordingly, to reach by 10 am.”

Working in 8-hour shifts at every checkpoint, the police ensure round-the-clock enforcement of the lockdown and as an added measure, there are also female personnel stationed at every checkpoint. “To assist women commuters, the department ensures there are policewomen at every checkpoint, 24×7,” says Maheshwari, an AR constable stationed at the Vanasthalipuram checkpoint.

The efforts are not going unnoticed. “The general public has been very supportive of us. For us it is our duty and as always, we bring our food from our homes but the public has also been supporting us by bringing us buttermilk, water etc., to help us in this heat,” says one policeman at a checkpoint.

These personnel, who are out on the roads to do their part against the war on Covid-19, also take extra care when they go back to their homes after the shifts, as Prakash Kumar, a Sub-Inspector at Vanasthalipuram checkpoint explains: “When we go home after our shift, we make sure none of our family members touch our work-belongings and we sanitise ourselves thoroughly before we go near them.”