Pune: About 150 Migrant Labourers Walking to Madhya Pradesh intercepted in Kondhwa by Police
Sumit Singh
Pune, April 15, 2020: About 150 migrant labourers, including some women and children, who were walking towards Kondhwa (on their way to Madhya Pradesh) early on Wednesday morning, were intercepted by Pune city police and persuaded to go back to their rented accommodation in Katraj area.
According to police, the workers along with their belongings were intercepted near Khadi Machine Chowk on Katraj-Kondhwa road around 3.30 am today. The labourers wanted to go back to their native places in Madhya Pradesh as they were finding it difficult to sustain life in Pune without any work. They are not able to buy food and pay rent. They live in shared rooms.
DCP (Zone 5) Suhas Bawche said, “We convinced them to go back. We have informed the district administration and PMC for providing relief.”
Senior Police Inspector Vinayak Gaikwad, in-charge of Kondhwa police station said that the workers were taken to Darekar School in Kondhwa, which is a designated shelter camp. But after some time, they wanted to go back to their rented accommodation. We allowed them to go back as they were not ready to stay at the shelter camp.
As the number of Coronavirus Positive patients are increasing day by day, the lockdown has been extended till May 3. Meanwhile, Pune city police have issued prohibitory orders for strict implementation of a curfew in more areas of Pune where many COVID19 patients have been detected.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Ravindra Shisve issued the orders which also include directions to keep all non-essential establishments closed including religious places as well as a ban on vehicle movement. People have to wear a mask if they are outside their homes. Only Kirana, medical store, hospital and other essential services are allowed to operate. People are not allowed to come out on road or in bylanes. Social distancing is the key to prevent the spread of Coronavirus and hence people should stay at home, the order states.
The number of Coronavirus Positive cases has reached 380 in Pune district today including 316 from areas under the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). A total of 34 people have died in Pune city till now due to this deadly virus. Since April 7, the central part of Pune from Mahrishinagar to RTO has been already sealed as most cases have been detected from those areas especially Bhavani Peth and adjacent areas. The PMC has declared a health emergency in Pune and notified these areas.
