Pune: FIR registered against 13 Tablighi Jamaat members for offering Namaz in group

Pune, April 11, 2020: An FIR was registered by Pune city police yesterday (Friday) against 13 Tablighi Jamaat members for allegedly offering group Namaz at a mosque in Raviwar Peth, where they had been staying since before the lockdown. Police have also charged four others including trustees of the masjid.

According to Faraskhana police station, the incident took place place around 5.15 pm on April 9. After hearing Azaan (call for Namaz), they went to check when they found these persons had gathered for Namaz in group, which is prohibited at present due to Coronavirus outbreak. During the further enquiry, it was learnt that 13 TJ members were from Jharkhand and reached Pune for religious purpose before the lockdown.

Police further said that as transport facilities were cancelled, they got stranded in the city and stayed at the masjid. People have been asked to maintain social distance as the way to tackle COVID19. But they were found standing together closely, hence an FIR was registered for an offence under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269, 270 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other relevant sections of the Epidemic Diseases Act, Disaster Management Act.

The medical tests of all the 17 persons were also done and they tested Coronavirus negative.

What is Tablighi Jamaat ?

Tabligh Jamaat Headquarter (Markaz) is located in Nizamuddin, Delhi. Devout Muslims from across the country and also from foreign countries visit the Markaz for religious purpose. Some also move out in groups to different parts of the country for Tabligh (missionary) activities. This is a continuous process throughout the year.

Recently Tabligh Jamaat came into focus after many of its members were found Coronavirus positive. On March 21, approximately 824 foreign Tabligh Jamaat workers were in different parts of the country for missionary work. Besides, around 216 foreign nationals were staying in the Markaz.

In addition, over 1500 Indian TJ workers were also staying in the Markaz while around 2100 Indian TJ workers were touring different parts of the country for missionary work. Since March 23, the lockdown has been strictly imposed by State authorities/police across Delhi including in and around Nizamuddin and Tabligh work came to a halt.

Till now hundreds of Tablighi Jamaat members have been found positive across the country and many of them have died. Later, the central government blacklisted 960 foreigner members of the Tablighi Jamaat who had arrived in India on a tourist visa instead of a missionary visa.