The police however claim that halting the vehicles and inspecting them was done purely to control the movement of vehicles during the lockdown.
Coimbatore: The city police have been instructed to permit the movement of vehicles only for essential reasons, in this time of nationwide lockdown to control the spread of coronavirus. All essential stores have also been permitted to be open only until 1 PM.
In order to bring the movement of people under control the Coimbatore city police decided to barricade many important streets. Traffic was halted between 9.30 AM and 10.30 AM, and 11.30 AM and 12.30 PM.
Due to the barricades, even the vehicles with valid travel reasons, including Corporation vehicles, police vehicles and vehicles of people who were out for essential reasons were halted and made to wait and police took the opportunity to advise them in loudspeakers about social distancing and staying indoors.
People who stepped out to buy essentials, as the stores remained open until 1 PM, were put in a difficult state as they were made to wait for half an hour.
The police however claim that halting the vehicles and inspecting them was done purely to control the movement of vehicles during the lockdown.