Curbs expanded to rural areas in Kashmir
CONTAINING SPREAD Police block roads to main markets; ask people to say indoors
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday expanded the restrictions to more areas and rural towns to prevent people from moving out as a precautionary measure to contain spread of coronavirus.
On Thursday, restrictions were imposed in Srinagar city and people were asked to stay indoors, however, on Friday, more restrictions were placed on ground.
At many places, police had sealed the roads leading to the main markets and only government employees and people associated with essential services were allowed to take these roads. All the shops in the city were closed, while pharmacies and some stores selling essential items were open.
Srinagar deputy commissioner Shahid Choudhary said that restrictions were imposed across the district with the aim to control spread of the virus.
Similar restrictions were imposed in the rural parts of Kashmir and police were seen making announcements asking people to stay indoors. However, at some places, people complained that they were harshly treated by the police.
“I had gone to SKIMS hospital to drop my wife who works there. The policemen treated me rudely despite conveying them my purpose of travel,’’ said Inam ul Haq, who lives in uptown Srinagar.
Meanwhile, restrictions have started showing encouraging results as there were no rush in the hospitals and most of the public places were empty. “Only a few people came to hospital on Friday. There used to be use huge rush otherwise,’’ said a senior doctor posted at GMC Srinagar. “The restrictions will crucial role in preventing the virus spread.’’ On the Srinagarjammu
national highway, the policemen were seen stopping vehicles and were not allowed to enter the city, while people who had valid reasons for travel were allowed to move.
Despite announcement of restrictions, many people were seen violating the government orders, especially in rural towns. There were no Friday prayers at many places and people preferred to pray either at their homes or in small mosques.
MAYOR MEETS L-G MURMU
Meanwhile, SMC mayor Junaid Azim Mattu met Lt governor GC Murmu and raised several demands, including 4g internet, which will help them indoors during the restrictions.
Hurriyat Conference on Friday asked people to strictly follow the guidelines suggested by medical experts an urged the people to stay inside their homes.
All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) also asked the authorities for immediate release of Kashmiri prisoners languishing in various jails across India on humanitarian grounds citing their life is under threat in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Prisoners in crowded jails are most vulnerable in present scenario,’’ said the Hurriyat in a statement.
MAJOR MOSQUES SEE BRIEF PRAYERS SMALL CONGREGATIONS
SRINAGAR: No large gatherings were witnessed during Friday prayers in prominent mosques of Kashmir amid coronavirus threat. Brief prayers and small congregations were witnessed in many big mosques of Kashmir, even as the administration had put the region under a lockdown.
At Kashmir’s biggest mosque Jamia Masjid in the old city and at the shrine of Dargah Hazratbal, eyewitnesses said that a handful of people offered prayers in these mosques. “There was azaan from Jamia Masjid, but not many people turned up for prayers. I decided to offer prayers at home,” said a local Bilal Ahmad.