Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, May 02 (KINS): As the deadly coronavirus is spreading fast in Kashmir valley, the Divisional commissioner P. K Pole Saturday made a fervent appeal to the people to follow the lockdown orders of the government to save themselves.
“We are trying our level best to prevent spread of Covid-19 in the valley. People must understand that this lockdown is not for preventing any law and order issue, but it is to save lives,” Divisional commissioner told news agency KINS.
He said that many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously. “Please save yourself, save your family, follow the instructions seriously. I request you to follow all the directions,” he said.
Sources said that at several places people were seen roaming and gathering, as a consequence of which directions have been passed to police and district administration to act tough which may include lodging FIRs against erring citizens.
The Divisional commissioner said that the administration was taking all the possible steps to keep the people safe and that people need to cooperate.
“There will be strict restrictions in the areas declared red zones and the people will stay in their homes to ensure complete lockdown. Strict action will be taken against those who violate the prohibitory orders,” he said.
According to officials, people are thronging markets particularly after the deployment is lifted which is clear violation of lockdown as it is meant for 24 hours.
Authorities have booked dozens of people for violating government orders aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus.
Reliable sources in the administration revealed that whosoever trespasses the lockdown will face a huge fine or a jail term of at least six months.
Official sources privy to the administration’s decision said that if people do not abide by the lockdown orders which have been imposed across Jammu and Kashmir in view of the rising coronavirus cases in the valley, the violators will face huge fine and even could be lodged to jail.
“Whosoever irrespective of his/her official position/status will face the huge fine or a jail term upto six months,” an official, privy to the decision revealed. “There is no room for any exemption. Everybody has to obey and fully abide the government’s orders and decisions as they are aimed at the security of people.”
It is to mention here that the administration Saturday said that the entire Valley will be treated as red zone and no relaxation except those permissible in such cases will be allowed. The decision comes in the wake of the two-week-long extension in the national lockdown beginning on Monday.
Divisional commissioner has said that there is very little difference between the red and the orange zones given the type of restrictions to be imposed and the level of caution to be exercised.
“We cannot afford to lower the guard at this time. All the ten districts of the Valley will be treated as the red zone till further orders,” he had said.
Interestingly no district in the Jammu division has been classified as the red zone as all the ten districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi, Udhampur, Ramban, Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and Kishtwar have been classified as orange zone.(KINS)
