Leaves of soldiers extended, movement restricted

Srinagar, Mar 20: Waking up to coronavirus threat, security forces have extended the leaves of their personnel and restricted the non-essential movement in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir.
Competent authority has desired that personnel reporting at TC Jammu from today onwards may be extended 15 days’ leave. Further, leave may not be sanctioned to the personnel for the next 15 days except in emergency cases reads the order of Deputy Inspector General of CRPF.
CRPF spokesperson at Srinagar Neeraj Rathore told The Kashmir Monitor that the top brass has issued these guidelines to restrict the travel of the personnel.
So far there have been no suspected case of coronavirus in CRPF. However, guidelines have been issued to restrict travel by jawans. They have been asked to avoid unnecessary leaves, he said.
Rathore said those who are currently on leave can extend those till the impact of the virus subsides. These guidelines have been issued especially to avoid travel, he said.
The CRPF spokesman noted that jawans are being constantly monitored by medical teams in their units. Our medical teams spray disinfectant in units. Jawans are being instructed to use precautionary measures at the individual level as well, he said.
The army has also adopted similar measures to protect soldiers from getting infected.
Lieutenant Colonel Abhinav Navneet, Defence Spokesman at Northern Command, said the forces have been directed to restrict their movement till the impact of coronavirus subsides in the union territory.
Jawans have been directed to restrict non-essential movement. Those who have an emergency can go for leave while routine leaves will be avoided, he said.
Lieutenant Colonel Navneet said those joining duties after spending leaves are being subjected to medical check-up and taken to isolation before joining the units.
A very soldier joining the unit has to go through a mandatory medical check-up. So far all the jawans have passed the tests successfully and joined their units, he said.
Police have also intensified its drive against the coronavirus throughout the union territory. A cleanliness drive including fumigation of buildings is conducted in every police station. Similarly, the policemen are directed to wash their hands regularly and use masks in crowded places.