Dimapur citizens without face mask in public places fined

Our Reporter

Dimapur, Jan. 11 (EMN): As the state gears up to face the onslaught of a possible third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, citizens of Dimapur were on Tuesday reminded about wearing of protective face masks in public places or pay a fine of INR 200.

Kato Y Swu, Dobashi, along with two police personnel on Tuesday were seen in New Market area, Dimapur, collecting fines from people not wearing face masks and also providing them with the same.

Speaking to Eastern Mirror, Swu said that they had been performing the duty of checking people without face masks since the first and second waves of the pandemic, and were imposing fines on shopkeepers and citizens without it, as per the order of the authorities in the wake of a possible third wave.

He informed that since January 5, 2022, they had been checking daily if citizens were maintaining the standard operating procedures (SOPs). He added that the order came from the offices of Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner of Police, Dimapur Municipal Council and Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).

‘We are trying our best to avoid another lockdown and the shops and markets continue to remain open,’ he said, adding that five groups are monitoring in different areas across the town.

He said that many people had the ‘bad habit’ of keeping their mask in their pockets instead of wearing it and such individuals were fined as well. He maintained that as per the government order, they would continue to perform their duty.

Meanwhile, when an autorickshaw driver was asked to put on his face mask, he responded that he needed to wear it only after reaching the town area as there was checking in other areas. He complained that the authorities were ‘unnecessarily checking and collecting fines.’