While the Covid-19 lockdown entered fourth day in Kashmir, authorities on Sunday imposed severe restrictions across the valley as part of ‘Janata Curfew’ called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While most of the people stayed indoors, those who venturedout were not allowed by police and security forces. Only the people associatedwith essential services were allowed to move after checking their identitycards.
Early in the morning, police and security forces were seenmaking announcements on vehicles fitted with public address systems askingpeople to remain indoors.
Markets across the valley were shut and public transport wasoff the roads. Train services have already been suspended.
The lockdown in Kashmir started on Thursday after governmentannounced restrictions when a Srinagar lady, who had returned from abroad,tested positive for Covid-19.
Later a massive drive was launched to screen all those whohad come in contact with the patient while the area within 300 metres radius ofher house was sanitised.
Since morning, joint parties of police and paramilitaryforces blocked the roads in Srinagar and other towns of valley restricting themovement of people by laying razor wires on the roads.
“We don’t have adequate health infrastructure in Kashmir.What can our doctors do when Kashmir with a population of seven million hasonly 93 ventilators? It is better to lock down the Valley to stop any spread ofthe deadly virus,” said Iqbal Ahmad, a Srinagar resident.
Educational institutions across Kashmir have already beenclosed, while all public places including gymnasiums, parks, clubs andrestaurants have been shut down.
At a press conference on Saturday, Inspector General ofPolice (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar had said that extra security forces will bedeployed across the valley to ensure that strict restrictions are imposed.
IGP Kumar had added that it may be Janata Curfew by name,but the history of Kashmir is such that whatever the situation, restrictionscannot be imposed without the police or security forces.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang Pole had said thatthe restrictions would continue till end of this month.
Reports of restrictions were also received from northern,southern and central Kashmir districts of the valley.
In Ladakh UT, where 13 positive cases of COVID-19 have beenreported so far, people preferred not to venture outside their homes to lendtheir support to the government’s efforts to fight the pandemic.
Many a residents told Greater Kashmir they are willing tostay at home, however they are forced to go to office due to thenon-availability of high-speed internet.
The demand for the restoration of high-speed internet hasbeen growing in the region, where the 4G services have been banned by thegovernment for the past over seven months.