Lockdown: Citizens wary of police excesses

Incidents of resistance by people also reported in city

LAHORE: As the measures for the implementation of Section 144 and the lockdown have been further tightened in the provincial capital, the incidents of police excesses have also emerged from different parts of the metropolis.

In an incident that reportedly took place in Raiwind City, policemen made two youth bow down in a very humiliating posture (murgha bana diya), filmed them both and made the video viral. Reportedly, this was done on a very minor issue.

The incidents of misbehaving and torture have also been witnessed. A few incidents of resistance by the public have also been reported in the city. In such an incident, a woman is seen in a video arguing with policemen against locking them down in their homes without food.

The woman asked the policemen either let her go to fetch food or provide her with ration. She also told the policemen that if the ration was available at her home, she would not come out of her house as long as they (police) would ask for. The incidents of offering bribe for police favours in the wake of lockdown have also been reported.



A few have been unique. In an incident, a few days back, a woman at a picket had offered a kiss to a policeman to let her go.

As far as measures for further tightening the lockdown are concerned, Lahore police have started closing down main roads of the city for traffic. They had also vowed to impound the vehicles if people came out of their homes unnecessarily since last night.

On Friday, the government’s guidelines for the offering of Friday prayers were also observed. Police took measures not to let people gather for Friday prayers in wake to prevent outspread of COVID-19.

Senior police command has also been reprimanding their subordinates also for not fully implementing the lockdown protocols.

During a surprise visit of North Lahore at night, CCPO Lahore Zulfiqar Hameed suspended SHO Missri for poor implementation and sought an explanation for SHO Mughalpura and DSP Shalimar.

As far official figures regarding lockdown and implementation on Section 144 are concerned, Operations Wing, DIG Rai Babar Saeed said as many as 90,242 citizens have been checked at more than 202 pickets of Lahore police and more than 82,000 people have been contained of their unnecessary movement and directed to go back to their homes.

He further said that as many as 1,318 FIRs were registered in violations of sections 144 during the partial lockdown.

The DIG Operations said that as many as 44,294 motorcycles, 11,488 autos rickshaws, 1,868 taxis, 13,030 cars and 4,039 other vehicles were contained from movement in the city. DIG Babar visited different pickets as well to review the arrangements made such as checking the mechanism of citizens and precautionary measures taken by deputed Police personnel at pickets.

Coronavirus kits distributed among policemen

On Friday more than 40,000 masks have been distributed to protect cops of Lahore police. These include disposable and washable masks. SP headquarters Jamil Zafar said 5,000 corona kits have been arranged for field duty on directions of CCPO Zulfiqar Hameed.



coronavirus kits are used at check posts and during special operations. In total, 15,000 bottles of sanitisers were provided. SP Headquarters Lahore said 50,000 gloves were given to the police force for protection from coronavirus.

“We have managed 500 goggles for police personnel deployed on sensitive duty,” he said.

Meanwhile, the CCPO has made it clear that the health of those cops cannot be compromised who are performing public service duty.

“The supply of coronavirus kits, masks and sanitisers will continue,” assured the CCPO. He further said the quarantine centre was also fully functional at the police hospital.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2020.