While as strict curbs to restrict the movement of people continued for ninth consecutive day in Kashmir today, the congregational Friday prayers were suspended by the people in view of the Covid19 pandemic.
The roads across the valley remained dotted with contingentsof police and paramilitary forces to check the movement of people.
Since Friday morning, police vehicles fitted with publicaddress systems went around the residential areas of the city and elsewhere inthe valley to announce that restrictions under section 144 of the Code ofCriminal Procedure (CrPC) were imposed.
The police were also using drones in some parts of the cityto announce the restrictions on the movement of people. Educationalinstitutions across Kashmir have already been closed, while all public placesincluding gymnasiums, parks, clubs and restaurants were shut down more than aweek before the lockdown announced by the Prime Minister.
The Srinagar administration and administration of other districtson Thursday formally ordered closure of all religious institutions and appealedto the management committees of all places of worship and all residents tocooperate.
“Those violating the lockdown orders can face legal actionunder the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, which lays down punishment as perSection 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, for flouting such orders”, thegovernment advisory on Thursday had said.
On Friday morning, the government cautioned religiousleaders against any gathering.
“DCs and SPs advised to strictly caution all religiousleaders NOT to call any gatherings. Public gatherings a major source of socialcontact and spread of the virus,” government spokesperson Rohit Kansalsaid in a tweet.