Jammu and Kashmir Police has registered an FIR against a person of Tablighi Jamaat for allegedly concealing travel history, even as a hunt has been launched to trace other people. This is for the first time since the outbreak of COVID19 in Kashmir that an FIR was registered against a person accused of concealing travel history. The FIR has been filed at Police Station Bandipora vide number 29/2020 dated April 1. The man has been put in quarantine. He had returned after attending religious gatherings in New Delhi and at some other places, police said. The man, police said, can be imprisoned for up to two years under Indian Penal Code (IPC) after his quarantine period is over. The case has been registered under section 188 IPC (violation of order promulgated by the government, which is a cognizable but bailable offence); section 269 (negligently doing any act known to be likely to spread infection of any disease dangerous to life) and section 271 (knowingly disobeying any quarantine rule). “The man can be booked for up to two years with fine, under section 270 for malignantly doing any act known to be likely to spread infection of any disease dangerous to life,” police said. “This is first FIR (of this nature) and we have activated the network to trace others,” Inspector General of Police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told Greater Kashmir. “Nobody will be allowed to conceal travel history as it will have impact on Kashmir population,” he said. However, the IGP Kashmir added: “Still if they report to authorities, we won’t take action and in case they conceal then there will be no compromise.” Last Tuesday, J&K High Court had taken serious note of some persons concealing their travel history and directed the administration to take necessary action against them. Meanwhile the authorities have decided to impose curfew like restrictions across the valley on Friday. “We have been doing it, and on Friday it will be stricter,” the IGP Kashmir said, adding that people were cooperating and “we appeal them for more cooperation.” Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir , PK Pole, told Greater Kashmir that to break the chain, there will be no compromise on restrictions till April 14. “After that we will review (the situation),” he said and appealed to the people to avoid large gatherings. Officials said on Thursday the restrictions on the movement and assembly of people were tightened across the valley in wake of COVID19 outbreak. “The roads across the valley remained sealed and barriers were erected by the joint contingents of police and paramilitary forces to check the movement of people,” they said. Since morning, the police vehicles fitted with public address systems were making rounds of the residential areas in the city and elsewhere announcing that “restrictions under section 144 CrPC were imposed”.
