Chennai: The policemen on duty are facing a dilemma– the people stepping out during the Covid-19 lockdown period are giving them creative excuses to stay outside and to roam on streets, but the cops face the music if they handle violators in a bit ‘strict’ way.
“While some openly say they were bored, others give excuses such as they need to go to the hospital, there was a death and they need to visit the aggrieved family or that they need essentials or medicines urgently,” says a police officer.
“‘We are risking our lives to protect people. However, some of them are not at all understanding it. We are not being rude to all, but only to those who are suspicious,” he says.
Recently, the police caught a share auto driver who was plying passengers in T Nagar, somewhat differently.
“He kept two big sacks of groceries at the back of the auto and was plying passengers at a high fare. When policemen stopped him, he said he was taking essentials home. Only after peeping in, we found people inside,” a police source said.
For the first few days, youngsters stepped out to play sports in the neighbourhood grounds and even wanted to visit their girlfriends, but now with warnings, they have stopped coming out. But, there are cases of people stepping out and begging policemen for passes to cross the border to go to their native places a few kilometers away.
“All they want is to go home. In one case, a man even fell at a policemanâs feet”, a police source said.