State police have launched large-scale raids and set up several checkpoints to penalise people roaming around without masks, the move coming after a state government survey found that only a little over half of people out on roads wore masks, and even fewer did so properly.

In the survey done with help of the police in around 650 points across Bengal, findings suggested that on average a little over 51 per cent of people wore masks. Among those wearing masks, only around 60 per cent properly secured them on their faces.

State government sources said after the survey report came, Nabanna top brass directed police to take strict measures to ensure people wore masks amid the threat of a third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and recent detections of the Delta and UK variants of the virus in both north and south Bengal.

“The survey report was very alarming. Hence, all districts have been asked to take strict measures to make masks compulsory for people outdoors. Police have been asked to start cases against violators,” said a senior state government official.

Police sources said it was not possible to start cases against everyone under the disaster management act but a campaign that in effect says “either cover your face with a mask, else face cases” has been put in place.

Police in several districts have lodged hundreds of cases against people for not wearing masks.

For example, East Burdwan district police on Thursday launched the ‘Mask up Burdwan’ drive in one of the biggest south Bengal towns. Police set up four new checkpoints in the town to monitor people on roads. Those without masks will reportedly face cases or at the very least an alert from the police.

“We have launched Mask up Burdwan mainly to stop people coming out of their homes without masks. It is not that we will only start cases, our main goal is awareness amid the threat of a third wave. Police from checkpoints will keep vigil on people without masks,” said Kamanasish Sen, East Burdwan police chief who launched the drive.

In Bankura, police set up at least a dozen check points at its tourist spots with cops keeping an eye on visitors. “We started around 60 cases yesterday (Wednesday). We are also conducting raids in markets to find out if people are wearing masks or not. We are strict in this regard,” said Dhritiman Sarkar, the Bankura police chief.

Birbhum police have started over a hundred cases against people not wearing masks, said Nagendra Nath Tripathi, Birbhum police chief.