VIJAYAWADA: In yet another humanitarian gesture, the Andhra Pradesh police have started returning all vehicles that were seized for lockdown violations, to the respective owners. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy gave directions to the police to release all the vehicles without charging penalty for the violations committed during the lockdown. Following the CM’s directions, the Vijayawada police have begun the process for handing over the vehicles to their owners.

As per chief minister’s instructions, no penalty is being levied on the vehicle users for the lockdown violations. Instead, the vehicle users are being asked to furnish an undertaking on bond papers that they would not repeat these violations again. Those vehicles that were booked under the Motor Vehicle Act are being released by charging a nominal penalty.

Several vehicles were released here throughout Sunday after Vijayawada Police Commissioner Dwaraka Tirumala Rao issued instructions to his department. As a result, vehicle users were seen queuing up at various police stations and taking possession of their vehicles while maintaining physical distancing there.

Chief Minister YS Jagan’s gesture in this regard came in as a pleasant surprise for all the owners of the vehicles held up at various police stations. Many were seen thanking the chief minister for this humanitarian decision and also sparing them from paying hefty fines.

Speaking on this occasion, CP Dwaraka Tirumala Rao said that a status quo in lockdown implementation will be maintained in all the containment zones within the city police limits. If any fresh cases are reported from areas that are so far considered coronavirus-free, then they will be declared as containment zones, he said.

Stating that the 7 pm to 7 am night curfew will be continued as usual, he appealed to all Muslims to celebrate Eid on Monday at their homes and cooperate with the government’s efforts to curb the Coronavirus pandemic.