Coronavirus: Cops deployed in strength to enforce lockdown in Jammu

Police personnel, wearing masks, were deployed in strength across Jammu region on Monday to enforce a lockdown to counter spre of vel coronavirus in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. 

shutdown came into effect from 8 pm on Sunday and will remain in force till 6 pm on March 31 with only people associated with 16 essential services, including healthcare, exempted from restrictions.

Many ros in city and elsewhere were blocked by barbed wire to restrict movement of people as policemen went around localities in ir vehicles fitted with public dress system, warning residents of strict action if y try to violate CrPC Section 144 that has been promulgated across region.

"Please cooperate with ministration and stay back at your homes...strict action will be taken against anyone violating orders by venturing out unnecessarily," a policeman in one of vehicles was heard saying. 

Jammu and Kashmir has recorded four positive cases of coronavirus -- three in Jammu and one in Kashmir -- forcing ministration to take various harsh steps, including closure of educational institutions, business establishments and public transport over past two weeks to counter threat. 

Barring shops dealing with essential items such as groceries and medicines, markets remained closed in Jammu and elsewhere, officials said, ding traffic on 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway -- only all-wear ro linking Kashmir with rest of country -- was also restricted to vehicles carrying essential commodities only.

"re will be movement of only essential commodities vehicles on highway from Srinagar towards Jammu for Monday," a traffic department anuncement said. 

Meanwhile, government has issued an visory to all private establishments for n-termination of employees and workers from job or reduce ir ws in view of virus outbreak. 

"All employees of public/private shops, establishments, industrial units, factories, mines, projects and contractors etc in Union Territory of J&K shall t terminate ir employees, particularly casual or contractual workers from job or reduce ir ws.

"If any worker takes leave, he shall be deemed to be on duty without any consequential deduction in ws for this period," res a circular issued by Labour Commissioner, J&K, Abdul Rashid War, ding if place of employment is to be me n-operational due to COVID-19, employees of such units shall be deemed to be on duty.

visory has been issued in view of catastrophic situation due to outbreak of COVID-19 and consequent possible incidents where employees/workers are t able to attend to ir duties or y have work to be done and refore may be forced to go on leave without ws/salaries in absence of work. 

" termination of employees from job or reduction in ir ws in this scenario would furr deepen crisis and will t only weaken financial condition of employees but also hamper ir morale to combat ir fight with this pandemic," circular said.

Representational Im