Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir administration today enforced strict lockdown in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir amid heavy deployment of security forces to prevent further spread of deadly Covid-19 pandemic.
The total number of positive cases in J&K has already swelled up to 184. Four people including a woman have also died so far due to Covid-19.
Even as the Srinagar administration had imposed restrictions on March 19, but the lockdown was enforced on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call on March 22 across the country. However, senior security officials in Srinagar stated that people continued to defy the lockdown especially after the deployment was thinned down during evening hours without bothering they may catch the deadly virus.
Yesterday, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary and Senior Superintendent of Police for Srinagar, Haseeb Mughal stated that from Friday, there would be strict lockdown across Srinagar and all the passes issued by the district administration would be invalid. The administration’s decision to enforce strict lockdown comes close on the heels of spurt in the Covid-19 positive cases in J&K.
“Despite the fact that we are fighting an invisible enemy, people are not cooperating with us. Even on the eve of Shab-e-Baraat on Thursday night, we were forced to register four FIRs as some people insisted to hold night-long prayers in mosques,” the SSP said. “People must understand that it’s not a militancy issue or a law and order problem. We are fighting an invisible enemy in form of Covid-19.”
In Thursday’s presser, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar said that 800 people didn’t reveal their travel history on time. He said had those people cooperated with the administration on time, perhaps the situation would have been different so far. The DC Srinagar also stated that the next four days were crucial to decide which way the situation is heading.
People in Srinagar, where almost 20 million live, woke up to a surprising morning—deployment of security forces, even in lanes and by lanes.
Those living in Srinagar outskirts also said that there was a deployment of security personnel in the interior parts of the city which till yesterday were “free to roam around”. “In Soura, strict lockdown was enforced and only medical shops selling medicine were open,” Aijaz Ahmed, a resident of Soura told NVI. “A policeman handed over me helpline numbers saying stay indoors and call on these numbers for medicine or other essentials.”
The Srinagar administration and police have set up helpline counters across the district to help people in need of essentials and medicines.
The administration has divided the district into 25 zones and each zone is headed by a nodal officer who would ensure that essentials including medicine etc are delivered at the doorsteps of people.
A policeman deployed at Pantha Chowk area of Srinagar said that they have strict directions not to allow two-wheelers or four-wheelers to ply on roads. “We are following the directions in spirit. This is for the safety of people. We don’t want to see Kashmir becoming Italy or United States,” said the cop, wearing a mask and gloves. Meanwhile, today is the third Friday in a row when no congregational prayers would be held in masjids and shrines across the Valley.
“In times of pandemic, our religion allows us to pray at home. So first priority is to save lives. I reiterate my appeal to all Kashmiri people to stay home and pray at their homes. God will listen to their prayers in homes too as he is present everywhere,” Kashmir’s Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam told NVI.
“People should not behave like illiterates. Godforbid, if we won’t follow directions from the administration or health experts, we should remain ready to face the worst. I hope better sense would prevail,” he added.
