Jammu and Kashmir police is on the forefront of fighting the deadly pandemic that has claimed four lives and targeted 245 people in Jammu and Kashmir so far since the outbreak on March 18.
Though in less numbers, police men could be spotted dotting the Srinagar roads and also major towns across Kashmir ensuring the lockdown announced by the government to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Less than one lakh in number, police men including station house officers (SHOs), DSPs and SSPs are following the government orders in letter and spirit and it won’t be far cry to say that police men are primarily responsible for keeping people in at a time when pandemic is all out to spread.
A senior police officer told that boys remain out in the fields till late in the evening and also throughout the night. “They reach their respective places early in the morning and ensure that there is no unlawful assembly in Srinagar and elsewhere,” he said, wishing not to be named.
“We can’t fight with people neither can we use force as we are not fighting any law and order problem. People need to understand that we are asking them to stay away from unlawful assemblies to follow section 144 that bars assembly more than four people at one place at a time.”
Manzoor Ahmed, policeman posted in one of the Srinagar police station said that he has not been to his home in South Kashmir since the pandemic started. “I am doing my duty from morning to evening. I have seen people are not still cooperating with us. There are many people who don’t understand the gravity of the situation and yet indulge in gossiping in gossip lounges,” he said.
“It’s time to stay home to save lives of yourself and others. By indulging in gossiping and unnecessary travel, some people are putting others to risk, which is unfortunate.” another policeman posted here in Lalchowk told .
SSP Srinagar Dr Haseeb Mughal appealed people to cooperate stating that police wasn’t dealing with a law and order or a militancy related issue but “this time enemy is invisible.” “I am sure that Srinagar people will cooperate in full. Though there is a section that still doesn’t understand the seriousness of the situation, I hope better sense prevails and people stay indoors,”
He said that the people must understand that police are with them and doing their best to stop spread of covid-19. “Public should understand the job of police. They risk their lives for the safety of public. I appeal people to cooperate with the police doing their tough duties in the field,” the SSP said.
“Our Jawans too have their families, they too want to go to home, but they remain away from their loved ones and are struggling to keep people indoors,” Mughal said.
He said that the police have around 100 vehicles in the filed regularly announcing restrictions. “We used drones for the surveillance. We do it only for the sake of people. They should also take some social responsibility and help the police for implementing the strict lockdown to stop the spread of Coronavirus,” the SSP said.
The police is not only preventing people from resorting to unnecessary travel and also enforcing strict lockdown , but its Cyber wing is also facing a massive challenge that of dealing with the “rumour mongers and fake account holders” who spread fake messages through social media with an aim to mislead people on various issues.
Sources said that a team of Cyber wing Kashmir headed by SP Tahir Ashraf is leaving no stone unturned to block the spread of fake messages on social networking sites.
“We are monitoring everything what is going on in the social media. We try our best to stop the fake information in the current situation. We instantly block fake accounts and that’s not so easy,”
He also appealed the people to cooperate and inform cyber police if someone is spreading the fake information. ( KINS )
