13 arrested for violating lockdown orders, continuing construction works

Hyderabad: Thirteen people, including owners of two under-construction houses and 11 labourers involved in the construction works, were arrested on 8 April for violating the lockdown orders and not taking any safety measures as per the instructions of the government.

Ragula Pentaiah and Samanthi Ramulu had started the construction work before the lockdown was imposed. However, even after the lockdown was declared they continued the work and had hired labourers from neighboring villages.

The Keesara police of Rachakonda commissionerate, acting on a tip-off, conducted raids and found that the construction works were going on even during the lockdown. Further, the two owners had no emergency reason for continuing the construction. A case under Sections 188, 269, and 279 of the IPC was registered against them. They were arrested and produced before the court on Wednesday.

The government has exempted essential services, including construction work that falls under government sector and irrigation projects, during the lockdown. It has also ordered all construction works that do not fall under these categories to be stopped and instructed employers to pay the workers. The state has also directed all government projects in progress to implement necessary social distancing and sanitation measures at the work sites.