Police make violators wear coronavirus helmet

Police here found a novel way on Wednesday to “punish” violators of Section 144.

As hundreds of people came out on the streets defying the prohibitory orders, police caught those who were on two-wheelers without any valid reasons and made them wear coronavirus masks and hold a placard that read “Don’t come out and go near coronavirus.”

Police took the stop after too many vehicles on the Padi flyover here on Wednesday morning resulted in a traffic jam. As things threatened to go out of control, the men in khaki stopped vehicles and asked them the purpose of going out.

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After finding out that many had just come without any valid reasons, they stopped two-wheelers and asked the rider and pillion to wear coronavirus masks and hold a placard. In some places, the violators were made to squat on the road as well.

The action came as Tamil Nadu police booked more than 1 lakh people for violating Sec 144 in the first week of the lockdown due to COVID-19.