From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, May 20: Even as the State Government is yet to take a final decision on whether to continue the present lockdown restrictions across Karnataka ending on May 24 till 6 am or not, Home and Law Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said the government has asked the police to tighten the enforcement of the restrictions, especially in rural areas which has seen continuous surge in positive cases.

Speaking to reporters near his residence in Bengaluru on Thursday, he said it was unfortunate that the efforts of the police in implementing the lockdown restrictions have not realty helped in rural areas and people are found to be moving around freely.

The Home Minister said he has received reports of people even in places as far away as in Yadgir district of people moving around freely and five persons riding a motor cycle to attend a wedding. This kind of behavior does not help, he said.

He mentioned that instructions have been given to police to seize vehicles of people travelling without valid reasons. The tightening of the lockdown restrictions is necessary to ensure the success of the Covid containment measures, he said.

In many of the rural areas, the district Deputy Commissioners have gone to the extent of implementing complete lockdowns for 3 to 4 days. Still, the people do not seem to have realized the seriousness of the situation and are not cooperating. ``How can we control the Covid pandemic if people do not behave responsibly?’’ he asked.

The Minister said the Chief Minister has announced economic compensation package to help the people, especially the poorer sections, to tide over the situation of lockdown restrictions and has announced that he was looking into how best to help the people.

The final decision on whether to continue the lockdown after May 24 will be taken by the Chief Minister probably on May 23, he said.