Bokaro additional collector Vijay Kumar Gupta on Monday punished several residents who were caught without their masks or face covers in the main market areas, by making them do sit-ups.

Gupta was leading one of the nine flying teams constituted by the deputy commissioner, Bokaro, Mukesh Kumar, to ensure that people should wear face masks and maintain social distancing.

The team was also empowered to impose fines on those found violating safety norms.

Kumar initiated the move after a spike in coronavirus cases in the township. There are 16 active cases in the district at present, of which four have surfaced in the township.

Two micro-containment zones have been declared in Hanumannagar of Camp-2 and Sector-9 .

Intellectuals and residents administration for being stricter in dealing with lockdown violators.

Mostly, residents belonging to the underprivileged sections were found without masks in the Laxmi Market and City Centre areas of Sector-4.

Hence, Gupta asked them to do sit-ups instead of imposing fines.

He also told the residents, especially vendors, about the benefits of masks and social distancing.

Kumar also appealed to commercial institutions to follow the no-mask, no-grocery rule.

He said the district administration was taking all appropriate steps after Covid-19 patients were found in the township.

He instructed all the social and business organisations of the district to maintain social distancing and get others to follow it. “Even petrol pumps should not give fuel to the people who go without a mask,” she said.

The nine teams have been given separate zones to monitor and slap fines on residents without masks.

Kumar said he has directed the teams to impose fines and take legal action against norm violators.