Tablighis under scrutiny, head of one group a ‘super-spreader’

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 1

The Tablighi Jamaat and its followers across the subcontinent are under scrutiny for being among the super-spreaders of coronavirus.

The organisation first came into limelight when the Kashmir head of one of its two factions  was tested positive for coronavirus on March 24. He hailed from Sopore in north Kashmir but was residing at Hyderpora in Srinagar.

He died at Chest Disease Hospital in Srinagar on March 26, becoming the first Covid-19 death in the UT. Since his death, around 70 of his direct contacts have been traced by the authorities, many of whom have tested positive for Covid.

The number of infected contacts in Kashmir could have been more if members of the other faction of Tablighis, headed by Amir Ahmad Khan, alias Parvez Sahab, had also travelled to Delhi and contracted the virus.

The Parvez faction, which has the largest followers across J&K and Ladakh, has its headquarters in Baramulla town, where it operates from Masjid Al-Rashaad.

“Our organisation had already taken a decision in October last year against sending groups outside J&K because of the prevailing situation across the country,” said Zahoor Ahmad, a senior member of Parvez faction.

The deceased first worked with Parvez, but separated from the main group in December 2016 following differences between the Tablighi Jamaat heads in New Delhi in 2015. He used to operate from the Zakaria mosque in Sopore.

The Jamaat is an apolitical organisation and throughout its existence in Kashmir has desisted from taking any position on the Kashmir issue. The organisation has no formal membership and operates from mosques. Its main focus is on spreading awareness and Islamic teachings among the Muslims, besides added emphasis on prayers and rituals.

Drive to trace participants intensified

• The J&K administration has intensified the campaign to track activists of Tablighi Jamaat who have attended congregation at Nizamuddin in Delhi. After raids in different areas, the police have traced 10 activists and sent them to quarantine centres. Seven such activists were traced from Kathua and three from Jammu district
• Sources said the authorities had already started criminal proceedings against Tablighi activists for concealing their travel history and mingling with the people
• The administration has prepared a list of 850 Covid suspects, who directly or indirectly came in contact with the people after attending the Nizamuddin congregation. Also, teams have been deputed to trace all suspects