Mumbai: The Mumbai police have taken penal action against those who were found violating Covid-19 guidelines while celebrated 'dahi handi' on Tuesday. So far at least six FIRs have been registered at multiple police stations across the city while the process of registering more offences is currently underway, said the police.
In most cases, the offences have been registered against the leaders and workers of a political party. The party had already announced that they will be celebrating the festival despite the state government's ban on gatherings. Accordingly, the party workers celebrated the festival in several parts of the city.
Two prominent leaders were booked by the police for breaking the 'dahi handi' and not following the Covid norms. One of the leaders had broken 'dahi handi' symbolically at Kalachowki area. Soon, he was detained by the police, while another leader participated at the 'dahi handi' celebration at Dadar. At Worli as well, several party workers were booked by the police for celebrating the festival despite the ban. The Sakinaka police prevented the political party workers from celebrating the festival at Andheri-Ghatkopar link road and booked them subsequently. While another offence has been registered at Ghatkopar.
The Kasturba Marg police station at Borivali has also registered an offence for late night celebrations of 'Janmasthami'.
"So far we have registered six offences," confirmed the Mumbai police spokesperson DCP Shivaji Rathod. The offences have been registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections for disobeying public servant's order (188), negligent act likely to spread Infection disease dangerous to life (269) and malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life (270) along with relevant sections of the Epidemic Act.
The state government has already asked people to refrain from gathering for festivals which would increase the risk of spreading Covid-19. On Monday the BJP had carried out protests across the state against the state government's stand for not reopening temples.
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday raised concerns over increasing crowds with the easing of lockdown and upcoming festivals. The court has said that if immediate steps were not taken to control the situation then things would get worse just as they had before the second wave.
"We will make sure that the festivals will be celebrated as per the state government's guidelines and we have already stepped up action against mask violators," added Rathod.
