Pune: It seems like the supposedly stricter lockdown in the cities is just being implemented on paper, as COVID-19 positive identified patients have a free-run to neighbouring talukas, districts and also other countries.

Two days after the shocking incident of a Punawale flat-owner woman fleeing to Dubai came to light, another incident has been reported, where in a family of four - including two children - who had tested positive for COVID-19 managed to flee from Pune city to their native place in Bhor taluka, but had to return when alert villagers sounded alarmed. A case has been registered against the family members at the Rajgad police station under relevant sections of the Epidemic Diseases Act and Indian Penal Code.

According to police, the concerned family members include a 35-year-old man, his 30-year-old wife, 7-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son. They stay at Narhe-Ambegaon area at the outskirts of Pune city and closer to Pune-Bengaluru highway, which passes through the Bhor taluka too. This family hails from the Hatave Khurd village in Bhor.

A few days back, all four members of the family had tested positive for COVID-19. Instead of isolating themselves or getting admitted to a hospital for further treatment, the man and his wife decided to flee to their village. The family managed to escape despite the heavy bandobast and check-points (nakabandi) being set up by Pune City and Rural Police, who are supposedly implementing the strict lockdown by regulating the vehicular and citizen movement in and outside the city.

When the family reached their village, some alert villagers informed the local administration about their COVID-positive status. The local administrative officials reached their home and asked the family to get hospitalized immediately. The officials insisted on taking the family along with them, but they refused. The family decided to return to Pune city, and again managed to flee from the village without informing the local authorities. When the Bhor administration inquired about their location, they came to know that the family is back to Narhe-Ambegaon in Pune.

Nilesh Tanpure, Block Development Officer of Bhor said, "We have got information that the family which had come to Bhor has again returned to Pune city and are admitted in a hospital for treatment."