Srinagar: Taking undue advantage of ongoing lockdown and subsequent closure of religious places in the valley, burglars over the past days struck various shrines and mosques during dead of the night and decamped with valuables worth lakhs.
In first instance, burglars looted many shops mostly grocery and medical shops in Anantnag district of south Kashmir last week. Amid lockdown, half a dozen shops were looted by burglars at Mehndi Market of the southern district.
Burglary as per local shopkeepers took place during the night intervening March 29 leaving them in a helpless situation as the police these days is busy on roads ensuring the lockdown is implemented in letter and spirit so as to contain COVID-19 from spreading further.
“I run a grocery shop at Mehandi Market; on March 29, I received a call that burglars have struck my shop. When I reached there, I saw several other shops were also looted by buglers,” a shopkeeper informed ‘Kashmir Images’ on phone
He said although a formal complaint has been lodged at nearby police station but no breakthrough was made so far in this direction.
“I don’t blame police for failing to make any headway in this regard rather appreciate them for putting their lives for saving people from dreaded disease. I only appeal police authorities to sternly punish the culprits who did not feel ashamed to commit such a shameful act during these testing times,” he added.
In a similar incident, burglars taking advantage of lockdown amid potential threat of COVID-19 pandemic stole cash filled chest at Makhdoom Bukhari (r.a) shrine in Tral town of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district
Burglars, locals said broke open the main gate of shrine and stole chest which was later found empty from a nearby orchard.
Commenting on the issue, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said people who took undue advantage of the situation will be dealt with sternly.
“I will certainly take action; will contact the concerned SP’s in this regard to investigate the matter. People who take undue advantage of lockdown will face the music,” IGP Kashmir told ‘Kashmir Images’.
