J&K administration on Friday directed all districtmagistrates and district police chiefs to caution religious leaders not to callany public gathering across the union territory today.
In a statement, Rohit Kansal, spokesman of the governmentsaid, “DCs and SPs advised to strictly caution all religious leaders notto call any gatherings. Public gatherings a major source of social contact andspread of the virus”.
Imams of all mosques in J&K have been advised to ensurethat no congregational Friday prayers are offered anywhere today.
The advice has come from both healthcare officials,administration and religious scholars in J&K.
‘Muezzins’ (Those who call devotees to mosque) have beenadvised to continue the five-times ‘Azaan’ as mandated by Islam, but not allowany gathering inside the mosque building or the compound.
People have been advised to offer prayers at home.
The number of COVID-19 positive cases has already reached 14in J&K while one infected patient succumbed in a Srinagar hospitalyesterday.
Keeping in mind the sensitivity of Friday, security forcesare strictly enforcing the 21-day long lockdown in Kashmir.
The strict compliance by the security forced to ordersasking them not to allow any unnecessary public or traffic movement hasresulted in a curfew-like situation which most locals argue is the only way tosave lives in J&K.
Police has said they won’t honour any identity cards ofstaff engaged in essential services who have been advised to obtain passes fromconcerned district magistrates.
The major problem with such a directive is that hundreds ofpeople engaged in essential services and those civilians who sell medicines,milk, other dairy products, vegetables, mutton, fish, poultry or are working atLPG outlets and petrol stations might take weeks to approach the local DMs fortheir movement passes.
Public are demanding that genuine identity cards whichpublic servants and small traders carry should be good enough to ensure thereuninterrupted movement to prevent shortages across Kashmir.