SWABI: The Jehangira Bridge on Kabul River, which links Swabi district with Nowshera district and rest of the country, has been closed to traffic to contain the spread of coronavirus and police have been deployed there to deal with the violators of section 144 imposed to restrict movement of the people.

The decision was taken to slow down the transfer of coronavirus under the lockdown policy. Thousands of vehicles use the bridge for two-way traffic daily. The public transport has already been banned and now the private vehicles could not cross the bridge, said officials.

When contacted, district police officer Imran Shahid said that the decision had been taken on the directives of the district administration. Checking has also been tightened on all entry and exit routes. Mohammad Farooq, who lives in area connecting Swabi with Buner, told this scribe that there was virtually a curfew-like situation near the checkposts of the two districts and majority of people were entering Swabi via Saleem Khan area.

Similarly, the main crossing point between Swabi and Mardan at Atum police post has strictly been monitored. Police have also been alerted at Shaheed Baba checkpost situated at the boundary separating Swabi and Haripur districts.

The officials said that over 20 people had been arrested for violation of ban on movement. In Swaib city, the police were seen holding sticks for beating the violators while about 70 motorcyclists had been ticketed.

Move aimed at containing spread of coronavirus

In addition, the area where a coronavirus case was reported on Wednesday had been sealed and the police provided food to the people while wearing protective kits.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Shahid Mehmood said that three of the five coronavirus patients had recovered and sent to their homes.

DROWNED: Two cousins, both residents of Beka village in Chota Lahor tehsil, drowned in the Indus River here on Thursday.

According to their families, they had gone across the river to bring firewood while using trye tubes.

On their return the tubes could not bear the load and both the boys, identified as Abuzar Khan, 23, and Abid Khan, drowned. The Rescue 1122 team has started search for the two.

Meanwhile, police arrested two hunters of rare birds on the complaint of wildlife officials here on Thursday. The two were identified as Mohammad Shakeel and Shahzad Khan of Duobian village.

Chota Lahor DSP Taj Mohammad told this scribe that the two had uploaded photos on social media with the rare birds they had hunted.

A case has been registered against them under the Wildlife Act. The wildlife department also fined them Rs500,000 for illegal poaching.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2020