Amid Ramadan, lockdown persists in JK to prevent COVID spread

Srinagar: On the first day of holy Ramadan, the Jammu and Kashmir remained under strict lockdown with all the markets as well as the business establishments and the educational institutions remaining closed throughout the day.
Witnesses said all the markets as well as the educational institutions including Schools, Colleges, Universities and Coaching centres remained closed in persuasion of the government to prevent the virus from spreading.
So far, nearly 500 people in Jammu and Kashmir have been tested positive while six among them have also died. Over 100 people have also been recovered and have been discharged from the government hospitals in the Union Territory.
Moreover, amid continuous lockdown for 32nd straight day, witnesses said police and paramilitary troopers remain deployed on the roads to enforce the lockdown, who had also erected concertina wires at many places, thus halting the vehicular as well as the pedestrians’ movement.
For the first time, the Masjids as well as the shrines across Jammu and Kashmir remained closed for prayers with religious clerics appealing people to offer prayers at home in wake of Coronavirus outbreak here.
“All the Masjids and shrines including Dargah Hazratbal and Jamia Masjid, located in Old city area of Nowhatta here remained closed for prayers,” witnesses said, adding that the only call for prayer was given from the Masjids across Jammu and Kashmir while the people pray at their home.
Besides, Jammu and Kashmir police continued to act tough against the persons who are found violating the government’s prohibitory orders issued under section 144 CrPC.
In South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, four persons were arrested while three vehicles were also seized for defying the government orders.
It is worth to mention here that the Kulgam police have so far registered 74 First Information Reports (FIR) for defying government orders.
At Police Station Qazigund, three persons were arrested and two seized vehicles were seized for defying the prohibitory orders and a case under FIR number 109/2020 under section 188 and 269 IPC has been registered.
At Police Station Manzgam, one violator was arrested and a vehicle was seized by the cops and a case under FIR number 20/2020 under section 188 and 269 IPC has been registered