Kashmiri students stranded in Bangladesh, Pakistan demand evacuation

SRINAGAR | GROUND REPORT

In wake of the Coronavirus outbreak, the students from Kashmir stranded in Bangladesh and Pakistan demanded immediate evacuation. The colleges and universities in Bangladesh and Pakistan have been shut and all the students have been asked to go home and they want to return home too due to fear and apprehension, the students said.

A student stuck in Bangladesh  told over the phone that their tickets from Kolkata to Delhi were also confirmed but still, authorities are not allowing them to move ahead. Around a group of 70 Kashmiri students are stuck here from last 12 hours at Benapole border and there is nothing to drink or eat, but nobody cares. "We cannot go back now to Bangladesh as we have already reached the Kolkata border," he said.

Students stranded in Bangladesh and Pakistan have appealed to External Affairs Minister to intervene so that they can go home. They have also urged Jammu and Kashmir administration to intervene into the matter and ensure their safe return. Meanwhile, officials in Jammu and Kashmir stated that all the borders have been sealed in view of Coronavirus outbreak and it is very difficult to help those stranded at the moment.

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The restrictions across Jammu and Kashmir Union territory continued for the sixth consecutive day on Tuesday after the positive case of deadly coronavirus was detected in the Valley. The people continued to observe complete lockdown and kept themselves indoors throughout the day to prevent the virus from spreading. According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), restrictions continued to remain in place across Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory for the sixth consecutive day. However, during the day, dozens of people were booked by the authorities for violating the government orders.

Witnesses said that police and paramilitary forces were deployed in strength today who enforced the restrictions across the UT in wake of the deadly Coronavirus outbreak. Many people who were found violating the government orders were booked by the authorities. Ganderbal Police has arrested ten drivers and seized their tippers and also arrested one shopkeeper who was found violating the government orders today. In this connection, a case under FIR number 08/2020 and FIR number 19/2020 under section 188 IPC have been registered at Police Station Kheer Bhawani and Police Station Lar respectively.

In north Kashmir’s Handwara area of Kupwara district, 34 persons were booked today while as 16 vehicles have been seized for violating the government orders. “In Police Station Handwara, six persons were arrested and six vehicles seized for violating the orders. In this regard, a case under FIR number 74, 75 under section 188 IPC stands registered in Police Station Handwara,” police said.

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In police station Kralgund, three violators have been booked and three vehicles seized for the same offenses and a case under FIR number 24 under section 188 IPS stands registered in Police Station Kralgund, police said, adding that in Vilagm police station, a case under FIR number 15/2020 under section 188 IPC stands registered and 15 violators have been arrested and six vehicles seized.

In Police Station Qalamabad, 10 violators who were found violating the restrictions imposed under section 144 IPC have been booked, adding that a case under FIR number 16/2020 under section 188 IPC stands registered and the investigation is going on 

In South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, authorities sealed at least 21 shops for violating the government orders issued in wake of deadly Corona-Virus pandemic. An official said that as a preventive measure to contain the spread of Covid-19 and in order to ensure strict implementation of section 144 CrPc, 21 shops operating in violation of restrictions and have been sealed. He said that these shops were sealed by district police and Municipal Committee Anantnag.

Also read: COVID-19: 2 More Persons Test Positive, Kashmir Cases Rise To 3

In South Kashmir’s Shopian district, officials said that at least 25 shopkeepers have been booked in the district for violating the government norms. It is worth to mention here that administration has been constantly making announcements, appealing people not to come out of their houses unnecessarily and adhere to the health guidelines. Police in Poonch district on Tuesday booked violators for violating the restriction order of District Magistrate Poonch. Officials said that police authorities are taking action against violators who are found violating the restriction orders especially the vehicle drivers and shopkeepers. Officials said that seven-person have been booked in Poonch for violation of restriction orders whereas three in Surankote sub division. Similarly, seven violators have been booked in Mendhar sub division.

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Besides, the roads across Jammu and Kashmir wore deserted look today with people across the UT preferring to stay indoors in wake of the deadly virus. Similar lockdown reports were reported from Jammu districts where people stayed indoors and restrictions continued to remain in place across the region