Amid Covid-19 lockdown, a top cop posted in traffic department has come out to the rescue of needy people by providing essentials and medicines at their door steps.Sheikh Adil Mushtaq, a 2015 batch Jammu and Kashmir Police Service (JKPS) officer from Baramulla district, who is posted as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) traffic police in Srinagar has started a chain on volunteer contribution across the Kashmir valley by delivery the lifesaving drugs and essential food items at the door steps of needy people.Talking exclusively to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Sheikh Adil said that the volunteer work of home delivery of lifesaving drugs started from day one when the lockdown was announced.“But with time the chain got expanded and people with various needs reached to us and around 800 callers have been facilitated till date with free food and medicines.”He said that initially commenced with delivery of medicines only but it was learnt that there are people who are on life saving drugs and those are the people who are going to suffer the most.“We use motorcyclists of traffic department to deliver the medicines at the door steps but there were people who were running out of money due to the lockdown. So we started to deliver free medicines to those in need,” he said.
He said that they started free medicine delivery in Srinagar which was supported by deputy commissioner, Dr Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary. “The delivery was done voluntarily by our cops including me and many of the times we drove to south and north Kashmir to deliver the medicines especially for those who couldn’t afford. I myself visited many parts of north Kashmir to deliver essentials and medicines.”He also said that they have created four WhatsApp groups and he was in touch with medical partners who provided medicines on 20% discount.“We have established a store where all the items are stocked up and dispatched to the places by concerned volunteer. But so far we haven’t delivered any medicine without the valid prescription slip. Because most of the times people showed some fake prescription, however, and they were not entertained.”He said that not even a single call has got unanswered and the whole process was self-funded. “I don’t ask for donations nor have I collected any donation so far. My friends have contributed generously and for Eid we have ensured the home delivery of essential food kits as well.”Talking about the team, he said at present there are only 20 people mostly friends who are involved in the activities and they don’t belong to his department—(KNO)