7 streets locked down in Peshawar to prevent coronavirus spread

PESHAWAR: Apart from blocking main roads to stop the flow of traffic, police have locked down seven streets in different parts of the provincial capital after suspected cases from these areas in the last several days.

As many as 71 policemen are deployed in the locked-down areas to ensure people remain at home until the area is cleared. Up to 106 policemen are also deployed at the quarantine centers. According to official data, around 3, 350 people are living in the areas which have been locked down to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the provincial capital.

Six of the locked down areas are located in the Cantt Circle, four in the limits of single police the station, while one locked down areas falls in the City Circle. The cops in different police stations have been recently provided protective suits, masks and sanitizers, mainly arranged by the station house officers of the respective police stations.

There are concerns about the health of the cops deployed at the sensitive places and locked-down towns. In Mardan, over 230 policemen have been deployed to lock down only the Manga village from where a large number of positive cases have been reported after the death of a patient.

A superintendent of police supervising security of the area has also been tested positive but still many are performing duty without proper PPEs. “Most of the officers and jawans are performing duty at sensitive places without proper security gears and PPEs. They should be officially provided PPEs, sanitizers, quality masks, and other requirements to protect them from coronavirus,” a policeman told The News.

Apart from the locked-down villages, policemen are deployed across the province to block roads, disallowing people to gather and keep a check on crime without proper arrangements in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite strict directives, many people are still seen on roads and streets, especially in villages and suburban towns. Inspector General of Police Sanaullah Abbasi through surveillance chip and drone camera reviewed the steps taken by the police in view of the coronavirus in different parts of Peshawar on Sunday.

The IGP issued necessary instructions to the relevant officials for making the best use of modern gadgets in performing professional obligations. The IGP was shown the police steps adopted for the safety and security of different quarantine centres in various parts of Peshawar, mainly in Cantt and city area, police presence on several duty points and situations of different markets and bazaars.

The IGP pointed out that the use of modern technology is not only to help in maintaining check and balance over police on duty but also to ensure timely steps for bringing improvement in it.