26 February,2021 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Photo for representational purpose
In their tongue-in-cheek style, the Mumbai Police on Thursday warned Mumbaikars on Twitter that it won't be âall that fine' if they don't follow COVID-19 safety protocols.
"Dear Mumbaikars, please follow all safety rules. Else, we will have to follow you around and that may not be all that âfine'," they tweeted.
Maharashtra remains India's worst Covid-19-affected state. It hit a four-month high with 8,807 new COVID-19 cases and 80 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours alone. Its overall number of cases now stands at 21,21,119.
On Monday, the city's civic authorities imposed fresh restrictions, including a ban on social and political gatherings.
"The mantra is simple, wear a mask, follow discipline, and avoid a lockdown. We will review the situation again in the next eight days and decide on a lockdown," Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had said earlier this week.
The police have been fining those found in public spaces without their masks on. They have also been filing cases against those violating norms deliberately. For instance, based on the city civic body's complaint earlier this month, it registered an FIR against a gymkhana and sports centre in Central Mumbai for hosting a wedding attended by over 300 persons without following the protocol.
This is not the first time Munbai Police has used humour to convey a message. They have previously posted hilarious tweets telling citizens to wear helmets and 'say no to drugs'.