Protected areas

(1) If the State Government considers it necessary or expedient in the interest of public safety that the entry of persons in any area should be regulated, the State Government may, without prejudice to any other provisions of this Act, by order, declare such area to be a protected area, and thereupon so long as that order remains in force, such area shall be a protected area for the purposes of this Act. (2) On and after such date as may be specified in the order made under sub-section (1) and subject to such exemptions as may be provided by the said order, no person who was not a resident of the area declared as a protected area by the said order, immediately before the said date, shall enter or remain in that area except in accordance with the terms of a written permit granted by the authority or person specified in the said order. (3) If any person enters or remains in any protected area in contravention of the provisions of this section, he may, without prejudice to any other proceedings that may be taken against him, be removed therefrom by any police officer on duty in that protected area or by any person under his directions or by any other person authorised in this behalf by the State Government. (4) If any person enters or remains in any protected area in contravention of any of the provisions of this section, he shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.