Shun superstition

IT is praiseworthy that our government is trying its best to combat Covid, but people should not be misled with any kind of superstition. The beating of thali will not stop this virus. A large number of people are uneducated and the educated are behaving like uneducated by beating utensils and bursting crackers. It is ridiculous. We should follow the WHO norms. We have no words to express our gratitude for the health staff working 24×7 for saving people. Others should shun coming out. It is not the time for entertainment or to visit relatives with potential danger.

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Opinder kaur Sekhon, Chandigarh

Ensure total compliance

With the growing number of corona cases across India, there are people who have gone missing after being diagnosed as suspects, especially in Punjab. On top of that, the PM announced a clapping ceremony for appreciating our healthcare workers, but one could see people gathering in groups to celebrate it, rendering the efforts for isolation (janata curfew) futile. There should be complete lockdown under the supervision of the police and anyone found non-compliant should be fined or jailed. The action should be punitive, only then we Indians will respond.

Abhijeet Singh Sidhu, Ludhiana

Feeling of oneness

The deadly virus has brought people of different castes, creed, religions and regions together. PM Modi’s request to applaud those in the health services was a great way of showing respect to all those on national duty. Suddenly, the whole nation has forgotten about the Hindu-Muslim divide and became humans first. Above all, this virus is cultivating a strong feeling of unity among the Indians and proves that ‘health is wealth’.

Drishti Doel, Jalandhar

Keep check on prices

We can tackle coronavirus if every citizen understands his/her responsibility towards safety. We should focus on personal hygiene, garbage should be cleared and surrounding areas kept clean. Medical stores should be fully equipped with masks and sanitisers and these should not be sold at higher prices. It has been seen many times that whenever there is any emergency, the price of everything shoots up. This should be controlled and checked by the government.

SUBER SINGH PARIHAR, Hamirpur

Dodging scrutiny

Apropos ‘7 more contacts of 70-yr- old man tested positive for virus’ (March 23), it is astonishing that a single person infected 14 persons, out of 21 cases reported so far in Punjab. It needs to be inquired how this man escaped medical checkup and why he was not quarantined and allowed to visit his native place on March 7, when it was well known to the airport authorities that the airplane was coming from virus-affected Germany and Italy. The checking at the entry level should be more stringent and foolproof.

Bhupinder singh saini, by mail

Naxal challenge

The news of Naxals killing 12 CRPF personnel is horrifying at a time when the nation is aggressively tackling the onslaught of Covid. The incident should not be taken lightly. The menace must be tackled by scanning Naxal-infested areas by drones and liquidating them, perhaps by using armed helicopters. Forces operating on the ground are required to be led by effective leadership, like the Army’s counterinsurgency standard operating procedure. Training level has to be stepped up to counter ambush head on and minimise own casualties. Finally, change operative policies to allow the use of the Air Force as they are no longer nationalists.

Col Sajjan Kundu (retd), Hisar

Certainty of punishment

Reference to the hanging of the convicts in the Nirbhaya case, statistics from the National Crime Records Bureau still points to the fact that there is no let-up in crime against women. More than the severity of punishment, it is the certainty of punishment that will act as an effective deterrent and will prevent instances of women ending up as victims of sexual crimes.

SC DHALL, ZIRAKPUR

Death penalty needed

Reference to ‘Obiter Dicta’ (March 23); in the Nirbhaya case, the four convicts were given every opportunity to save themselves and their execution was deferred four times. Capital punishment is inflicted in most heinous acts. If this punishment is given moratorium, crime will go on unabated. The death penalty is the rarest of rare punishment. The Indian judiciary is very much reserved while awarding such punishment. Hardly one or two capital punishments were awarded in India in four years. This punishment must be in the rule books in India.

RL Bansal, Kurukshetra

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