No curfew imposed in Pune, police clarify amid viral claims

PUNE: Police in Pune have denied reports circulating in sections of the media and on social media claiming that a 14-day curfew has been imposed in the city.The reports suggested that the Pune administration had restricted public movement and banned gatherings for a fortnight starting the night of May 26. However, officials have clarified that no such curfew or citywide restriction has been announced.The clarification came after messages and media reports circulated online claiming that authorities had banned protests, rallies and public gatherings in response to rising fuel prices and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for fuel conservation amid the ongoing West Asian crisis.The viral posts also claimed that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had introduced strict austerity measures for its staff, including restrictions on official vehicle use, mandatory carpooling, online meetings and use of public transport at least once a week.