Bengaluru, Mar 22 (IANS): To ensure citizens comply with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to observe janata or people's curfew on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to avoid being affected by coronavirus, city police would detain and quarantine its violators, an official said on Saturday.

"If citizens move around the city without a specific purpose or on a non-essential service on Sunday, they will be detained and quarantined in the nearest police station till 9 p.m. and let off later," an official told IANS, citing Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao's warning to the people about the janata curfew.

Reiterating Modi's call to the people across the country, especially children and senior citizens to stay at home, Rao said every citizen was bound to abide by the advice as it was in the interest of all and to prevent the contagious virus affecting them or spreading to others.

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"Janata curfew offenders can be booked and detained under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 269, the Karnataka Police Act 30 (section L) and the Epidemic Act, as they are meant to prevent spread of communicable disease dangerous to life," asserted the police official.

In a nationwide televised address on Thursday night, Modi urged the people across the country to stay at home on Sunday from early morning to late night and avoid moving out for commuting or travelling out of the city, social gathering or crowding in public places to be safe and healthy.

The tech city of over 10-million denizens is already under partial lockdown since March 14 to March 31 as a preventive measure to minimise the fallout of the fatal disease sweeping across the world over and claiming lives in thousands.

As all malls, theatres, markets, shops, restaurants, eateries, parks, grounds and tourist spots will remain shut, the official said the people need not stir out of their homes for errands or leisure activity.

"Metro rail service will be suspended for the day. The state-run transport corporation will operate limited bus services on select routes to discourage commuting in the city and travelling across the state or neighbouring states," the official pointed out.

As the railways has also cancelled several passenger, express and mail trains and decided to operate a few suburban services on need base, the people will have no reason to travel out of the city.

Auto-rickshaw, taxi and private bus associations have also decided to suspend their services on Sunday to support Modi's call for the people's curfew. As the curfew is not imposed by the police, it will not be enforced but sought to be observed voluntarily by the people for the welfare of all.

"I have advised my staff to be polite with the people, check reasons for coming out of their homes and advise them to go back. If they don't abide and argue with the police, they will be detained and booked for violating the law," Rao told news channels in Kannada.

Rao also urged women not to allow their children come out of homes to play or have fun on the streets. Elders also should not be allowed to for walk or even small errands, as they are vulnerable to the COVID-19 symptoms.

"Even the police commissioner's office in the city centre will remain closed on Sunday to avoid the public visiting it for their grievances. The control room will be operational for the people for enquiries or information. The public can file complaints online than risk going to police stations in their jurisdiction," the official added.

Stay home on Sunday to contain coronavirus: Yediyurappa 

In a fervent appeal, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has asked the people across the southern state to stay home from 7 a.m to 9 p.m on Sunday to contain the spread of the dreadful coronavirus.

"To set an example, I will stay at home in the city throughout Sunday and monitor the situation. I appeal to the people to also abide by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to remain in their homes across the state to combat the communicable diseases," said the 76-year-old Yediyurappa in a statement here.

Recalling Modi's televised address to the people across the country on Thursday on staying at home on Sunday, the chief minister said the state government had been able to contain the infectious virus so far with the cooperation of the people.

"As per the prime minister's clarion call for a janata (people's) curfew, don't come out of your homes on streets even after 9pm on Sunday as the purpose of the 14-hour lockdown is to contain the spread of the virus," Yediyurappa asserted.

Reiterating that coming out of homes after the public curfew ends would nullify the efforts of the government to minimise the fallout of the disease, the chief minister advised the citizens to remain indoor and stay with their near and dear ones.

"Appear through home windows or balcony/porticos or rooftops at 5pm to join all the countrymen in applauding the selfless service of doctors, nurses and other healthcare stakeholders in fighting the virus with claps and cheers," he added.