AMID LOCKDOWN

Srinagar city has been kept under severe lockdown from March 19 till date without any respite. District Magistrate of Srinagar has said that there would no relaxation in restrictions till May 3, 2020.

In past few days it has come to the notice of media that police is entering into the interior parts of Srinagar city and not allowing even selling and buying of essential items for the survival of people. On Thursday today police entered into the interior Mohollah’s of Nawa Kadal like Koker Masjid, Narwara,Tangbagh and Mirjan Pora. According to the locals of these localities, despite they were maintaining social distance and buying essential items like vegtables, milk etc. police thrashed them and also the shopkeepers and vendors of the area.

People of Srinagar city have valid questions to the district administration that what are alternate means for them to get the essential items for the survival if they have not to step out of their homes to buy these items. What is the crime of those small shopkeepers and venders who have been permitted by the district authorities to sell these essential items to the people, during lockdown? In these days of crisis, when hunger is staring at the face of people, use of force by police without any purpose is only defeating the collective fight against the pandemic, with people cooperating in all fronts.

By and large people of Srinagar city have cooperated with the authorities and it is the responsibility of the government to keep the supply chain intact and allow people to buy the essential items and not hinder even such windows for their basic necessities. People of Srinagar have appealed district authorities to brief police not to ruthlessly enforce restrictions, but to extend the hand of cooperation and compassion to the people and become the facilitators for the residents and not the means to chase them away.