Jammu region saw a total lockdown on Friday while no congregation prayers were allowed.
Even as other districts have allowed essential commoditiesincluding Udhampur where supplies are being dropped at doorsteps of the people,Ramban administration put in place complete restrictions. Deputy CommissionerRamban, Nazim Zai Khan, tweeted late night: “COVID-19#preventive measure,complete lockdown on Friday (March 27). Public of Ramban is requested not toleave their homes till further directions. Essential supply shops to alsoremain closed.”
The towns were completely deserted in Ramban and Banihalwhereas the Masjid at Railway Station in Banihal was sprayed with disinfectantsbecause four religious preachers had stayed there before leaving for Srinagar.At Srinagar, all four tested positive for coronavirus.
The authorities have put in home quarantine the Imam of theMasjid and kept an eye on other people with symptoms. Hence, the administrationensured complete lockdown.
Amid stringent security arrangements to restrict movement ofpeople, people also complained of harassment by the police and paramilitarypersonnel when they headed to buy essential commodities.
Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Sushma Chauhan, said “Norestriction has been imposed on the essential commodities.” The DC tweeted thatmovement passes related to supply of groceries and essential commodities willbe routed through Deputy Director Legal Metrology and all passes related tochemists will be routed through Deputy Controller Drugs.
As many as 1000 people have been quarantined in Samba atRadha Swami Ashram and District Hospital after these people entered Jammu andKashmir from Lakhanpur.
Kathua district is already facing over-crowded quarantinecenters and hence around 1000 people were shifted to Samba.
Volunteers have also approached authorities in Kathua tohelp them in handling the daily affairs in the quarantine centers.
The police with other agencies have started a hunt to tracethe people who are hiding their travel history so that they are kept inquarantine centers.
“We have details of all those who had gone outside thecountry and returned. If they still do not approach the health authorities fortheir checkup, we will bring them,” said a police officer.
Police have registered two different FIRs in Reasi districtfor defying restrictions under FIR Number 31 of 2020 under section 188 of IPCagainst Molvi Mohammad Zafar son of Mohammad Zubair, resident of Nowabad,Reasi, who is Imam of Jamia Masjid Nowabad and others.
A case under FIR Number 32 of 2020 under section 188 of IPCstands registered against one shopkeeper namely Ramesh Kumar son of Jagan Nath,resident of ward number – 5, Nai Basti in Reasi.
PARAMEDICAL STAFF ALLEGES HARASSMENT:
Paramedical staff members held a demonstration at GovernmentMedical College and Hospital Jammu alleging harassment by the securitypersonnel when they come for their duty.The protests erupted in the hospital promiseswhen the nurses coming from different areas were allegedly harassed by thepolicemen. Our health service identity cards are not considered by the police,”alleged the protesting nurses. “We were told to get the passes from the DeputyCommissioner Jammu before coming to duties.”