9 held under Kerala Epidemic Diseases Act

Thiruvananthapuram: The police have started invoking sections of the new Kerala Epidemic Diseases Act that was promulgated as an ordinance by the state government a week ago.
On Thursday, the city police arrested as many as nine persons invoking sections that grant the police powers to restrict private transport. As many as six cases were registered at Peroorkada police station and three at Vattiyoorkavu police station.
The police said that the sections under the new ordinance were slapped against those who were travelling in vehicles exceeding the passenger limit. Under lockdown scenario not more than two persons are allowed to travel in a car or an autorickshaw.
The police on Thursday registered a total of 76 cases in the city till 5pm. As many as 64 vehicles were seized. This include 55 two-wheelers, seven autorickshaws and two cars.
Most number of cases were registered at Nemom and Vattiyoorkavu police stations. Under Thiruvananthapuram rural police district, 61 cases were registered and 65 arrests were recorded on Wednesday. Also, 44 vehicles have been seized.
City police commissioner Balramkumar Upadhyay said that more number of people are coming out of homes ever since the distribution of free ration and pensions commenced. People should abstain from visiting ration shops randomly. On Friday, only those who have card numbers ending with the digits 4 and 5 are allowed to visit the ration shops. Others must stay at home. Also, only one person from a house will be allowed to visit the ration shop.
Similarly, only those who have bank account numbers ending with the digits 2 and 3 will be allowed to visit banks on Friday to receive pensions. Pensioners with PTSB account numbers ending with the digit 2 are allowed time between 9am and 1pm and those whose account numbers end with the digit 3 are allotted time between 1pm and 5pm. Legal action will be taken against those who come out of homes violating these directions, the commissioner said.