Power to order persons to assist in restoring law and order and preserving property and to furnish information.

(1) The State Government may, in the interests of the security of the State, or of the maintenance of public order or of services essential to the life of the community, by general or special order, direct that the inhabitants within such area as may be specified in the order shall— (i) assist in the maintenance or restoration of public order, or in the protection of property for such period and in such manner as may be specified in the said order; (ii) furnish to any authority or person specified in the said order any information so specified, which is in their possession or of which they could with the exercise of due diligence become possessed. (2) If any person contravenes any order made under sub-section (1) he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both: Provided that any court convicting any person for such contravention shall, in determining the punishment to be awarded, take into account the amount, if any, apportioned on such person of any collective fine imposed under section 5.