Maintain Distance

Government was forced by the circumstances in the wake of the tragic death of a religious preacher due To COVID-19 to ban Friday prayers in Jammu and Kashmir. Most of the Masjids and shrines have been closed in order to save common people from the growing spread of COVID-19. Although the government has taken all such measures to avoid crowd like situation and to maintain social distance, but police at some places has trashed people for offering Nimaz and such incidents could have been avoided.

Few days back police filed FIR and arrested 14 persons in Awantipora area of Pulwama district for offering Nimaz in a local masjid together.

This is not the time to flex the muscles of police. They should cooperate on the ground with common people and educate them how important it was for their survival to remain indoors and offer prayers inside in their homes.

Police should avoid confrontation with common people in Kashmir and should use persuasion rather than force to keep them indoors. It is the duty of authorities to take notice of ground situation in Kashmir and direct police on the ground to be more sympathetic towards the people in these days of crises rather than thrashing them on street even if they are forced by circumstances to come out of their home.

People of Kashmir valley especially Srinagar city must understand the gravity of situation and should cooperate with administration to enforce complete lockdown so that lives are saved.