Delhi govt orders release of over 3,000 quarantined Tablighi Jamaat members

Order by Delhi Disaster Management Authority says Tablighis from Delhi should be issued passes so they can get home.

Nearly 4,000, including foreigners, had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi (representational image) | Photo : Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

New Delhi: The Delhi government Saturday evening ordered the release of Tablighi Jamaat members who were confined in quarantine centres across the national capital.

The order was issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority to deputy commissioners of all 11 Delhi districts to coordinate the procedure.

More than 3,000 Tablighi Jamaat members, who were evacuated from the Nizamuddin Markaz in mid-March, have been in quarantine even after finishing their mandatory 28 days. ThePrint had reported last week that children of several Tablighis had written to the Delhi government asking for their release.

Thousands of Tablighi Jamaat members had been evacuated from the Nizamuddin Markaz where they had gathered for a religious congregation and quarantined as the area became a hotspot after a number of members tested positive for coronavirus.

According to the order, “out of 2446 Corona suspects related to Markaz and Masjid of Indian Nationals belonging to various states staying in quarantine facilities and turned negative, can be released as per prescribed protocol of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India… and be returned to their respective states”.

Those from Delhi can also be released and issued curfew passes from their quarantine centres, the order added. It also said that these individuals should not be allowed to stay anywhere, including masjids, other than their residence. Nodal officers and DCPs have been directed to strictly ensure this and provide a record to special crime branch of the Delhi Police.

On 6 May, Delhi’s Health Minister Satyender Jain had issued an order according to which permission was granted for the release of the Tablighi Jamaat members in Delhi.

“Nearly 1,000 belong to Delhi while the remaining are from other states, including Tamil Nadu and Telangana,” said a government official, adding that the Delhi government was in the process of getting in touch with resident commissioners of these states.