A case has been registered against the preacher who led the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi and others for violating government orders and exposing many to the threat of coronavirus.
Delhi Police on Tuesday registered the case against Maulana Saad and others of Tablighi Jamaat under Section 3 of Epidemic Disease Act 1897 with Section 269, 270, 271 and 120-B IPC for violation of government directions.
The Jammat allegedly violated government directions given to the management of Markaz (centre) in Basti Nizamuddin regarding restrictions on social, political and religious gathering and for taking safety measures, including social distancing for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection.
Also read: COVID-19 epicentre: 299 from Assam attended Nizamuddin event in Delhi
The Delhi Police Commissioner said the FIR was filed by Delhi Police Crime Branch under Section 3 (penalty for offence) of the Epidemic Disease Act 1897 and Sections 269 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease), 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease), 271 (disobedience to quarantine rule) and 120b (punishment of criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.
The markaz (centre) in the south Delhi neighbourhood organised a Tabligh-e-Jamaat from March 1-15 and at least 2,000 people, including foreigners and Indians from across the country, attended the gathering.
On Sunday night, many residents of the centre started showing symptoms of COVID-19 and police and paramilitary officials locked down the area but authorities fear a possible spread of the virus.
In Delhi, at least 24 people who participated in the event have tested positive for COVID-19.
On Monday night, the Telangana government confirmed that six people who had attended the congregation in Delhi died of coronavirus in the State.
Also read: 52-year-old man in Karimganj is first Covid-19 positive case in Assam
States across the country are now a hunt to trace all members of the Jamaat as well as those they came in contact with.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was quoted in reports as saying that 1,107 people, who attended the religious congregation in Nizamuddin West, have been quarantined.
He said that his government has already written to Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal recommending the registration of an FIR against the organizers.
Nationals from the UK and France are among 281 foreigners out of 1,830 people who were found by the police in the last two days at the Markaz that became a key source of coronavirus spread in the country, officials said.
In last one month, at least 8,000 people, including foreigners visited the premises of the Markaz, and most of them either returned to their respective places or were in other Markaz facilities across the country, thereby having a link to some positive cases in those states, they said.