Over 200 people were arrested and around 50 vehicles and two-wheelers seized in and around Siliguri on Saturday as the Siliguri Metropolitan Police enforced the lockdown.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had told the Darjeeling district administration and the police in Siliguri on Friday to strictly enforce the lockdown because of the region’s proximity to international and inter-state borders.

Since Saturday morning, senior police officials stood with their men at checkpoints.

Tripurari Atharv, the commissioner of Siliguri Metropolitan Police, himself went out to check the arrangements and visited a marketplace to make people aware about the lockdown and asked them to maintain social distancing even if they come out of their homes for some emergency purpose.

At the checkpoints, people moving in two-wheelers and cars were checked and allowed to go only if they could prove the urgency of being in the streets. Police teams also visited some localities where residents were flouting the lockdown and not maintaining social distancing. From these areas, some people were arrested.

“We will strictly implement the lockdown. Checks are being carried out in all major roads, traffic points and marketplaces and steps would be taken against those who violate the lockdown. Senior officers are keeping watch across the city,” said the commissioner, after visiting a market in Tikiapara, off the DBRCD Flyover of the city.

For the past few days, hundreds were seen coming out of their homes and roaming around in bikes. Groups of youths were seen sitting together in localities, and blatantly violating the lockdown.

During the morning hours, it had been like a normal day in some of the prominent thoroughfares of the city and in some locations on the outskirts. Even traffic congestion was reported in some locations during these hours.

“It has been found that many people have come out on flimsy pretexts and were not even wearing masks. We are taking legal steps against them. Also, raids would be conducted in marketplaces to prevent gathering of people. The vegetable vendors, grocery shop owners and others concerned have been asked to maintain social distancing,” said a police officer.

Sources at North Bengal Medical College & Hospital said that four police personnel of Bagdogra who were admitted at the private nursing home in Kawakhali after they showed symptoms of suspected corona infection, have tested negative.