A cricket stadium and a sports complex in northern India have been converted into “temporary jails” to hold those who violate the country’s lockdown conditions, according to a senior police official.
The facilities are located at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium and the Manimajra sports complex in the city of Chandigarh. They have been operational since March 24, and authorities say a total of 600 people have been detained so far.
“We round up people we find loitering on the street who are violating the lockdown conditions and bring them to the jail to brief them about social distancing, we provide them with food and tell them about proper sanitization, and they are let go by evening,” said Chandrajit Singh, Chandigarh Police’s public relations officer.
The police force has also been briefed to maintain social distancing measures while detaining those who violate the lockdown, Singh added.
“We don’t file official charges against these violators, but if there are repeat offenders then action might be taken against them,” Singh said. The jails will be operational as long as lockdown conditions are in place, he added.
