Today, the Indore Police intercepted a cement mixer near Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, to find it was transporting 18 people, including 14 migrant labourers, from Maharashtra to Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh amid the nationwide lockdown. In a viral video, the workers can be seen exiting the mixer from a small hole, with their backpacks on.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Umakant Chaudhary said the vehicle was seized and the workers shifted to a quarantine facility, where they would be screened for coronavirus, PTI reported. “After opening the lid, we found 18 people inside,” said Traffic Police sub inspector Amit Kumar Yadav. “They all were sent to a shelter for medical examination. A bus is also being arranged to send them to Uttar Pradesh.”
Yesterday, the nationwide lockdown was extended till 17 May with a new set of guidelines and relaxations.
Among the 18, four were employees of the truck owner. An FIR was registered against the truck driver under relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).