NEW DELHI: Hizbul Mujahideen chief commander Riyaz Naikoo has released an audio clip dishing out advice on how to protect against the coronavirus pandemic. The tips include practising social distancing, trusting doctors and maintaining hygiene. J&K police officers said they were surprised at this sudden departure from the outfit’s usual call for jihad against security forces.In the clip released on Wednesday, Naikoo — among top 10 terrorists wanted by security forces — is heard telling Kashmiris: “Isolate your family as much as possible, maintain cleanliness. If you maintain social distance, you will remain safe. Listen to doctors and follow what they say.”Naikoo also appreciated the role of health workers and told people not to hide their travel history or symptoms from them. The chief of the banned militant outfit asked people to avoid congregations. The advice comes amid the row over Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi’s Nizamuddin, which has now been linked to at least 400 positive cases in India. In J&K, which has 70 coronavirus positive patients, 855 people are being traced for attending the event or coming in contact with someone who did.This is the second audio Naikoo has released in the last two weeks. In another audio on March 13 — the first after abrogation of Article 370 in August — he had said his outfit would continue to target paramilitary forces and Army personnel.This isn’t the first case of a terror outfit giving directions on how to protect against coronavirus. The Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group issued a travel advisory in March asking its operatives to steer clear of Europe. The terror group had recommended washing hands regularly and “covering your mouth when sneezing”.