Banker detained for failing to enforce distancing norms

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, April 10

Fed up with the growing violations, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ishfaq decided to teach a lesson to those taking social distancing recommendations casually.

On Thursday, when the DC was touring the town, he saw a large number of people gathered outside a bank branch at Kahnuwan Chowk. He asked his security personnel to send the bank manager to him, whom he asked to sit in a police vehicle following his car.

The manager was taken to the DC office. After a few anxious and uneasy moments, he was curtly told that “he was under arrest for violating Section 188 IPC (disobeying government orders)”. Stunned, the manager asked for forgiveness, but the officer paid no heed to his pleas.

He, however, was given the liberty to call up his lawyer. After half an hour, the DC let him go, but before that he was asked why he let customers break the social distancing rule. To which the banker replied that managing the surging crowd was beyond his control, a plea which was nonchalantly brushed aside by the DC.

“At a meeting held with bank managers recently, I made it clear that the onus would be on them to ensure that social distancing norms are followed. In this particular case, I saw nearly 50 people elbowing each other to get a chance to go inside. It was as if social distancing was an alien phenomenon,” said Ishfaq. The incident had a cascading effect. Security personnel guarding numerous banks were directed by their bosses to make sure customers adhered to the rules. Dr Satnam Singh Nijjar, chairman, District Planning Board, hailed the move. “The officer’s firmness in following rules means the entire district of Gurdaspur is Covid-free. Not even a single positive case has been reported to date,” he said. “People should understand that guidelines have been laid down for their well-being,” said Manjit Singh Dala, a realtor.

Government schoolteacher Sukhbir Kaur said, “The virus will vanish into thin air only and only if we follow regulations. The DC has set a good example.” The consequences were such that people have now decided to strictly stick to the norms, a development confirmed by senior police officials. “Not even a single violation has been reported since yesterday. We are breathing easy now,” said SSP Swarandeep Singh.