MHA asks states, UTs to probe Rohingyas’ link with Tablighi

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 17

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The central government has written to states and Union Territories asking them to screen Rohingya Muslims living under their jurisdiction for COVID-19 as many of them had attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Mewat in Haryana and Delhi’s Nizamuddin, said sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)

Sources said in the communication to Chief Secretaries and Director Generals of Police (DGPs), the MHA said there have been reports that several Rohingya Muslims have attended “Ijtemas” and other religious congregations of Tablighi Jamaat and there is a possibility of their contracting COVID-19.

It is also said in the letter that the Rohingyas residing in camps in Hyderabad had attended Tablighi Jamaat “Ijtema” at Haryana’s Mewat, and had also attended the meet at Nizamuddin Markaz.

Similarly, Rohingyas living in Delhi’s Shram Vihar and Shaheen Bagh localities, who had gone for Tablighi Jamaat activities, have not returned to their camps, it added.

In the letter the MHA said, there are also reports from Dera Bassi, Punjab, and Jammu area of Jammu and Kashmir about the presence of Rohingya Muslims, who have come there after attending the Markaz at Nizammudin.

“Therefore, Rohingya Muslims and their contacts may need to be screened for COVID-19. Accordingly, necessary measures may be taken in this regard on priority,” sources said quoting the letter.

According to data available with the MHA there are about 40,000 Rohingya refugees, who are living in different parts of India, including in Delhi, Jammu and Hyderabad.

Last month, eight Rohingya Muslims, who have been living in Jammu, were put in quarantine after they attended the Nizamuddin meet.

Over 2,300 activists, including 250 foreigners of Tablighi Jamaat, were found to be living at the organisation’s headquarters, or ‘markaz’, located at Delhi’s Nizamuddin last month despite the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus. At least 9,000 people took part in the congregation at the Nizamuddin Markaz last month after which many travelled to various parts of the country for missionary works.

The MHA had earlier said about 2,100 foreigners have come to India since January 1 and participated in Tablighi activities all across the country.