Bulandshahr (Uttar Pradesh): The Uttar Pradesh police triggered a row after the notice it had issued to former MLA Bhagwan Sharma for flouting lockdown norms, was mistaken as a general notification.
The police said it had issued the notice to former MLA Bhagwan Sharma alias Guddu Pandit, who was "luring" migrant labourers with the promise of food and water.
The notice, issued by the officer in-charge of the Bulandhshar City Circle outpost, read that the above led to flouting of the COVID-19 lockdown rules.
This comes after the notice, dated May 11, was widely being circulated on social media, being mistaken for a general notification, which led many to believe that they were not allowed to feed migrants.
The notice warned of legal action under the Epidemic Diseases Act if lockdown rules are broken.
However, SSP Bulandshahr Santosh Kumar Singh issued a clarification via a video message.
Singh said the notice was issued specifically to Sharma, who has already been booked more than five times for breaking lockdown rules and flouting social distancing norms.
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The ex MLA had been gathering migrant labourers at his house with the promise of food and water, which were leading to flouting of social distancing rules, he said.
The cop added that the notice was being taken out of context and being shared on social media without the name of the person in order to tarnish the image of the police.
Singh also said that several individuals and social workers have been helping migrants by providing them with food, and the police appreciated their efforts.
However, the notice stuck outside Sharma's residence reportedly did not have any name mentioned on it. Further, the officer-in-charge has reportedly been sent to the police lines for not mentioning the name on the notice, while the circle officer has also been asked to provide an explanation.
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