Police stepped up vigil on Thursday following reports that a growing number of people are violating the lockdown and stepping out even when there is no pressing need to do so.

Calcutta police commissioner Anuj Sharma instructed his officers to ask people through loudspeakers to stay indoors and be strict against those who are hitting the roads without any justifiable reason.

The city police on Thursday arrested 980 people who allegedly failed to cite any acceptable reason for being out of their homes. On Wednesday, only 48 people were arrested.

The wide gap in the two days’ arrest figures has triggered charges that the police had of late been slack in enforcing the lockdown, which has been imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

On Thursday, the police increased their presence across the city and did not allow anyone who could not produce documents to support their claims of urgency. The maximum number of violations were reported from the central division.

Instances of lockdown violation had also been reported in large numbers from pockets in North and South 24-Parganas and Howrah over the past few days. There were reports from North 24-Parganas that tea stalls, grocery shops, sugarcane juice stalls and sweet shops were drawing a large number of people.

The scene was much the same in most of Howrah. “Most shops are open and there are crowds in front of them. Police are there but they seem reluctant to enforce social distancing,” said a resident of Howrah.

Sources said the police force across the state had got cold feet and were no longer keen on enforcing the lockdown following the government’s decision to punish 12 cops for their alleged excesses.

An officer of Bengal police said: “It is difficult to be polite and soft when we are trying to enforce the lockdown. Some officers probably crossed the line and were punished. But that has made a section of the force jittery.”

Some officers said the “problem” had increased with the issuing of e-passes that allows one to move around the city during the lockdown.

“Calcutta police and Bengal police both are giving the passes. This has resulted in an increase in the number of cars on the roads. These days sweet shops are open, too. So, we have to grant permission to someone who says he is going to buy sweets,” said an officer.