No Friday prayers amid Corona scare
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Mar 27: Four persons including an elderly couple today tested positive for COVID-19 in Srinagar taking the number of positive patients to 12 and one of them, a 65-year-old man from Hyderpora, originally a resident of Sopore, died yesterday.
Two persons are aged 32 years and 37 years and are residents of Bemina Srinagar who had travel to New Delhi and Haryana where they participated in religious congregations, attended by foreigners from Italy, France, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The other two persons are 62-year-old man and his wife from Chattabal area of Srinagar and they had returned from Saudi Arabia on March 16 and were part of the same flight which was boarded by a man from Natipora and Kashmir’s first COVID-19 patient, a 67-year-old woman from Khaniyar, Srinagar.
The Principal Secretary, Planning and Government spokesman Rohit Kansal tweeted today: “4 more positive cases in Kashmir; all from Srinagar district–2 have travel history abroad; the other 2 have travel history outside J&K as part of religious congregation.”
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All of them are presently admitted to Chest Disease Hospital (CD) Dalgate, Srinagar and their samples were taken yesterday.
Dr Salim Khan, Nodal Officer for Coronavirus said that 48 test reports were received today and 44 of them came out to be negative and remaining four were positive for pathogen. He said 60 fresh samples have been taken and their reports are awaited.
Dr Farooq Ahmad Jan, Medical Superintendent of SKIMS, said that 21 samples came out to be negative today. “These samples pertained to 15 from SKIMS and 6 from GMC Baramulla.” He said seven more symptomatic persons were admitted to hospital where 55 persons are in isolation while two persons were discharged.
And for the first time, no Friday prayers were offered across Kashmir today due to Coronavirus scare. Govern-ment yesterday ordered closure of all religious places across Kashmir including Masjids and shrines.
The religious leaders had also asked people to stay away from offering prayers in Mosques and asked them to offer prayers at home.
A policeman was today disengaged from his services after a video went viral in which he was seen making announcement with abusive language, asking people to stay indoors.
A video was circulated on social media sites wherein a policeman was allegedly seen making announcement in an abusive manner.
“On preliminary investigation, the allegations were found true and it was come to fore that the cop is posted in Sopore. The cop had shot the video at an isolated place and was not part of any announcement making team,” an official said.
Taking cognizance of the issue, Sopore police has registered an FIR against the erring official under relevant sections of law and the official has been disengaged from the department.
Police today registered an FIR against father-son for violating administration order amid lockdown over COVID-19 in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
A vehicle bearing number JK15 8030 boarding father-son on the way from Sangrama to Delina, were stopped at Check point near Jamkash, a team of police on duty when asked to provide curfew passes, they refused to do so and when the concerned police party tried to know the reason behind their journey they started a brawl with on duty police official.
The father and son were identified as Azad Wani son of Ghulam Rasool Wani and his son Suhail Ahmed Wani.
Police today booked six-persons for violating restriction orders issued by the District Magistrate Bandipora.
An FIR was lodged on the directions of District Magistrate Bandipora, by Police against six persons who violated the restriction orders. All the accused have been arrested by the Hajin Police during patrolling in the area.
Earlier an open FIR was registered at Police Station Pethkoot against people who assembled near ATM in contravention to Section 144.
Continuing its action against violators of Government probhitory orders, Ganderbal police have lodged an FIR against law violators.
Police Station Kangan, acting on reliable sources regarding gathering of people for offering Friday prayers in Jamia Masjid Chattergul took legal action and lodged an FIR against the violators.
Police had already conveyed general public to avoid offering prayers in Masjids in prevention of social gathering so that this chain of transmission of virus could be stopped. However, few people defied the Government lockdown order.
A case (FIR No.17/20 under relevant sections of law) has been registered in Police Station Kangan and further investigation into the case has been initiated in this regard.
Auto driver shot dead
A 25-year-old was killed by gunmen this evening at Redwani area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
A police officer said that militants fired upon Mehraj-Ud-Din Bhat at Redwani this evening. An auto driver by profession, Bhat suffered serious bullet wounds and was shifted to PHC Qoimoh for treatment.
Bhat was referred to GMC Anantnag for specialized treatment as he had multiple bullet injuries. He succumbed to injuries at the hospital.
Soon after the incident, security forces launched a hunt to nab the assailants. However, militants had fled under the cover of darkness.
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