‘J&K Govt to impose huge fine, or six month jail for lockdown violators’

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir administration led by the Lieutenant Governor Girish Chander Murmu, which has announced complete lockdown in the Union Territory till March 31 in a bid to prevent the spread of deadly COVID-19, has decided to go tough against violators of lockdown in both Kashmir and Jammu.

Reliable sources in the administration revealed that whosoever trespasses the lockdown will face a huge fine or a jail term of at least six months.

Official sources, privy to the administration’s decision, disclosed that if people do not abide by the lockdown orders which have been imposed across Jammu and Kashmir in view of the rising Coronavirus cases in the country, the violators will face huge fine and even could be lodged to jail. Pertinently, the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 415 across India today.

“Whosoever irrespective of his/her official position/status will face the huge fine or a jail term upto six months,” an official, privy to the decision revealed.

“There is no room for any exemption. Everybody has to obey and fully abide the government’s orders and decisions as they are aimed at the security of people,” he added.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, P K Pole also confirmed that the government has decided to impose fine and even put the person behind bars for six months in case there is any violation to the lockdown. “Whosoever violates the lockdown or any order of government, will face the action as per the law of the land,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to State/UT governments to ensure that rules and regulations of the Coronavirus lockdown are enforced as he noted that many people are not taking the measure seriously.

“Many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously. Please save yourself, save your family, follow the instructions seriously. I request State governments to ensure rules and laws are followed,” he said in a tweet.

The Centre on Sunday advised State governments to enforce a lockdown in the 75 districts that have reported Coronavirus cases. However, essential services will be allowed to operate in the 75 districts.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister with Chief Secretaries of all the States/UTs.

The State governments were advised to issue appropriate orders to allow only essential services to operate in the 75 districts which have reported confirmed cases or casualties relating to COVID-19.