Delhi: 455 FIRs, 92 cases of violations registered on first day of weekend curfew to curb Covid-19 spread

According to media reports, over 30,000 police personnel were deployed and nearly 400 police pickets were set up across the capital to enforce the curfew.

Cases were registered mostly against people who were found on the roads on flimsy excuses like "returning home from Ghaziabad/Noida", "out to withdraw money from ATM" or "going to buy liquor", said a Hindustan Times report.

As many as 283 people were prosecuted for not maintaining Covid appropriate behaviours like not wearing masks or not maintaining social distancing.

Police had to take 1,950 preventive actions till Saturday morning while police registered 363 FIRs, arrested 164 people and issued 2,432 fines between 8 am and 8 pm on Saturday.

Delhi government officials said all markets, including Khan Market, Sarojini Nagar, Connaught Place and Kamla Nagar, remained shut.

The government made elaborate arrangements like issuing e-passes, running at least 5,600 Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses, and deploying district administration staffers and civil defence volunteers to assist the police, the HT report informed.

Delhi Police also made doorstep delivery of life-saving medicines and food to Covid patients in home isolation and ferried senior citizens from their home to vaccination centres and back.

The Delhi Police launched 24x7 Covid helpline 011-23469900 on Friday night and over 1,500 calls were received on the helpline till Saturday evening. Its Twitter handle also replied to citizens seeking information on movement restrictions and e-passes.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejiwal has already hinted at stricter curbs and continuance of the weekend curfew if the Covid situation worsens in the capital city.