441 visitors symptomatic of Covid-19: MHA

New Delhi: The Union home ministry said on Tuesday that the government is committed to identify, isolate and quarantine Covid-19 positive Tablighi Jamaat workers in India. It said 1,746 persons were staying in Hazrat Nizamuddin Markaz on March 21, out of which 441have so far been found symptomatic of the coronavirus.

Among the people staying at the centre, which has since been sealed, 1,530 were Indians and 216 foreigners, said the ministry.

In a statement, the ministry said about 824 foreigners left for Tablighi Jamaat activities in various parts of the country while the rest were staying at the centre, which serves as its headquarters. Additionally, 2,100 Indian workers of the religious group were touring different parts of the country for missionary work at the same time, it said.


The authorities were alerted after six of them tested positive in Telangana on March 21. All six later died but the authorities sounded an alert as the ministry wrote to all states.

It is estimated that from January 1 onwards, nearly 2,100 foreigners visited India for the activities of the group, which urges Muslims to return to practising their religion as it was during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad, said officials.

“On March 28, state police were advised to collect the names of Indian Tablighi Jamaat workers from the local coordinators, locate them on the ground, get them medically screened and quarantine them. So far, about 2,137 such persons have been identified in different states. They are being medically examined and quarantined. This process is still on and more such people would be identified and located,” said the ministry statement. The ministry further said, “The swift action was taken with a view to identify, isolate and quarantine TJ workers who might be Covid-19 positive. Instructions were also issued by MHA to chief secretaries and DGsP of all states as well as CP, Delhi. The advisories were reiterated by the DIB to all state DGPs on March 28 and 29.”

Meanwhile, Delhi police said a case has been registered against Maulana Saad and others of Tablighi Jamaat under section 3 of Epidemic Disease Act 1897 read with Section 269, 270, 271 and 120-B IPC for violation of government directions.