A senior officer of Jammu and Kashmir administration was on May 12 caught on camera going on a rampage in north Kashmir’s Baramulla town, purportedly to enforce the lockdown to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. The errant officer, Mohammad Ahsan Mir, who is the additional deputy commissioner of Baramulla, the second highest civil official in the district, was seen in a video assaulting elderly and even women without giving them a chance of speaking. The video circulated widely on social media, drawing criticism with many people asking the LG Manoj Sinha to act against him. The behavior displayed by Mir doesn’t behoove an officer of his standing. Now that he has apologized, the admin needs to take fresh stock of how the restrictions have to be enforced while also taking into account the daily needs of people who may be forced to venture out of their home for buying essentials and medicines. The lockdown came into effect from April 29 evening and security forces have a crucial role in stopping the spread of the virus that seems to be rearing its ugly head once again. Since past month, there has been a rapid surge in the number of fatalities due to the Covid-19. New daily cases are also touching new highs. While experts blame the lethality of the new, double mutant strain of the virus for the sudden and sharp spike in cases and fatality rate, some part of the blame also has to be shared by the administration which allowed mass congregations like winter games in Gulmarg and the tulip festival in Srinagar at a time when Jammu and Kashmir should have been ramping up its resources to deal with the incoming second wave. But not all is lost yet. There is still time to stop the second wave or at least lessen its impact by shoring up our defenses in the form of a long term strategy involving traders, educationists, health experts and other stakeholders. Imposing the lockdown is part of that strategy. While the lockdown is not a solution to prevent the spread of the virus, it can certainly limit the intensity of the spread. There will obviously be a backlash to the lockdown from a section of the society whose livelihoods depends on their daily earnings. It is the poor and underprivileged class of daily-wagers such as local kirana shops, vendors and the drivers of private transport, etc who are suffering due to the lockdown. The admin must reach out to them, not with lathis and batons but with a caring heart.
A senior officer of Jammu and Kashmir administration was on May 12 caught on camera going on a rampage in north Kashmir’s Baramulla town, purportedly to enforce the lockdown to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. The errant officer, Mohammad Ahsan Mir, who is the additional deputy commissioner of Baramulla, the second highest civil official in the district, was seen in a video assaulting elderly and even women without giving them a chance of speaking. The video circulated widely on social media, drawing criticism with many people asking the LG Manoj Sinha to act against him. The behavior displayed by Mir doesn’t behoove an officer of his standing. Now that he has apologized, the admin needs to take fresh stock of how the restrictions have to be enforced while also taking into account the daily needs of people who may be forced to venture out of their home for buying essentials and medicines. The lockdown came into effect from April 29 evening and security forces have a crucial role in stopping the spread of the virus that seems to be rearing its ugly head once again. Since past month, there has been a rapid surge in the number of fatalities due to the Covid-19. New daily cases are also touching new highs. While experts blame the lethality of the new, double mutant strain of the virus for the sudden and sharp spike in cases and fatality rate, some part of the blame also has to be shared by the administration which allowed mass congregations like winter games in Gulmarg and the tulip festival in Srinagar at a time when Jammu and Kashmir should have been ramping up its resources to deal with the incoming second wave. But not all is lost yet. There is still time to stop the second wave or at least lessen its impact by shoring up our defenses in the form of a long term strategy involving traders, educationists, health experts and other stakeholders. Imposing the lockdown is part of that strategy. While the lockdown is not a solution to prevent the spread of the virus, it can certainly limit the intensity of the spread. There will obviously be a backlash to the lockdown from a section of the society whose livelihoods depends on their daily earnings. It is the poor and underprivileged class of daily-wagers such as local kirana shops, vendors and the drivers of private transport, etc who are suffering due to the lockdown. The admin must reach out to them, not with lathis and batons but with a caring heart.
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