Police on Tuesday took 122 morning walkers to task for defying the lockdown, sending out a strong message that morning and evening walks in public places is prohibited in the time of Covid-19.

While 32 people, including 12 women, were detained for three hours after they were picked up from Jubilee Park and G-town under the jurisdiction of Bistupur police station, 90 morning walkers were picked up from other police station areas such as Sakchi, Ulidih in Mango, Parsudih, Burmamines, Jugsalai and Govindpur.

A group of policemen reached Jubilee Park and adjoining roads at 7am and surrounded them. The cops then forced the morning walkers to get into a bus that the cops had brought along and carried them to Bistupur police station.

At Bistupur police station, the morning walkers were made to stand for three hours. They were released on personal bonds only after city SP Subhash Chandra Jat apprised them of the situation in which they have to confine themselves at home in view of the pandemic. Deputy superintendent of police (composite crime control) Arvind Kumar said: “We picked up 122 people, including women, and later released them on personal bonds. The exercise will continue on Wednesday.”