People make total shutdown a success in Western districts

In Coimbatore, police were out in full strength to ensure lockdown is imposed in letter and spirit. Over 2,000 police personnel manned the roads, doing vehicle checks in the around 25 check posts in city limits and around 40 in rural areas.

Only essential services like milk were allowed and violators were slapped with fines. To ensure better monitoring, the city police have also set up watch towers and used drone cameras in containment zones in the district.

In Salem district, the Corporation officials slapped a fine of Rs 17,000 and seized about 90 kilograms of meat sold in houses and in shops defying the lockdown ban. Two residents of Arisipalayam were fined Rs 2,000 for selling mutton in their house. Also a meat shop in Nalligoundanpudur in Kondalampatty was sealed and about 70 kgs of mutton, chicken and fish were seized. The shop owner was fined Rs 5,000. Similarly, a pork shop was sealed at Seelanaickenpatty and the shop owner was slapped with a fine of Rs 10,000.

The Salem town, including old bus stand, new bus stand, Shevvapet market and arterial roads wore a deserted look due to the total shutdown. Police were involved in vehicle checks by erecting check posts in as many as ten places and only essential services were allowed.

In the Nilgiris, the roads were completely bereft of people and vehicles, including autos and cars weren’t operated. There was total compliance in other districts including Tirupur and Erode.