Amid lockdown, over 60 people found holed up in goods vehicles

Mumbai, March 29

Amid the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, the Navi Mumbai police found over 60 people, mostly labourers, being ferried in a container truck and a goods carrying tempo in the wee hours of Sunday.

An FIR has been registered against drivers of both the vehicles, a police official said.

During a checking at Palaspe Phata in Panvel, the police found 22 men, 25 women and 16 children stuffed in the two vehicles, he said.

Later, all of them were taken to the CIDCO exhibition ground and handed over to the authorities concerned.

“We have come to know that those found in the container, all labourers, were going from Mumbai to Karnataka.

The driver, Dhanraj Shivaji Awrade (45), revealed he found the labourers walking on a road and asked them to board the vehicle after demanding a certain amount which they agreed to pay,” Panvel’s senior police inspector Ajay Kumar Landge said.

Besides, the people found in the tempo are all residents of Koparkhairane area in Navi Mumbai and were apparently on way to Satara to attend a wedding function, the official said.

The tempo was being driven by one Pandurang Laxman Pawar (49), he said.

“We have registered an FIR against both the drivers under Indian Penal Code Sections 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), and other relevant provisions,” the official said.

Both the vehicles were seized while the drivers were left off after being issued notice under Criminal Procedure Code Section 41 (when police may arrest without warrant), he said, adding that further probe was underway.

Hundreds of migrant workers hit streets in Kerala seeking transportation to native places

Seeking transportation to travel to their native places, hundreds of migrant workers on Sunday ventured out into the streets near Changanassery violating the lockdown.

The incident is reported from Payippad village.

Hundreds of migrant workers are out on the street, seeking transportation facilities to go to their native places, the authorities said.

The government authorities said the migrant workers would be provided food and accommodation till the lockdown is over.

“If a special train is arranged for their travel, we will facilitate their travel,” Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said. —PTI

—PTI