The Mumbai Police Department said on Saturday that rumours of a curfew in the city were false. The police advised people not to panic.
From December 3 to 17, the Mumbai Police have imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to prevent unlawful gatherings and rallies.
Vishwas Nangre Patil, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), clarified that this was not a curfew and
that the action is taken on a regular basis to maintain peace in the city and to avoid disruptions in public order.
The rumours that a curfew has been imposed in the city are false and are causing confusion, according to Nangre Patil in a video message.
"I want to clarify that the order is imposed every 15 days to keep an eye on people holding rallies without police permission and attempting to disrupt law and order," the senior official explained.
Section 144 has no application in everyday life. Such an order has no effect on schools, colleges, theatres, political functions, or other events, he said, urging people not to spread rumours about it.
Section 144 is a ruling that prohibits public gatherings in a specific jurisdiction.
This constitutional provision empowers the district or any executive magistrate in a state or union territory to impose the aforementioned law during anticipated emergencies.