High-end cars dominate city roads on Day-2 of total curfew
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 19 2021:
On the second day of the 10-day total curfew imposed by the government as part of the stricter measures taken up to contain spread of COVID-19, no pedestrians were seen on the streets of Imphal city and greater Imphal area but significant numbers of high-end vehicles were spotted plying.
The first day of the total curfew on Sunday being a hot and humid day, streets in Imphal city and greater Imphal area wore deserted look and very few vehicles plied on the roads with almost no pedestrians.
The strict measures taken up by the government was successful and the curfew too was total on the first day but the second day witnessed a completely different scene as large numbers of vehicles could be seen plying on streets of Imphal city and greater Imphal area.
From early morning, vehicles belonging to government offices not covered under the purview of the curfew, agriculture and related activities and essential services began to ply in large number.
Though there were no pedestrians on the roads, numerous luxury cars were seen moving from early morning till late afternoon.
Personnel of Manipur police, IRB and MR were seen checking people who came out and some were seen penalised and made to pay fine for violating curfew norms.
Top police officials of Imphal West and Imphal East districts including SPs were seen supervising and inspecting the stricter measures at important road junctions of the two Imphal districts.
Nevertheless, police were unable to stop numerous luxury cars moving on the streets on the second day.
Though signalled to stop, the police allowed luxury cars to pass through the checking points without even asking a second question and such cars stopped barely for one minute.
This has raised eyebrows among some sections of public as to whether luxury cars are exempted from the purview of the total curfew and allowing free movement of luxury cars might belittle the imposition of total curfew.