11 of Jamaat booked for travelling without curfew passes in Shimla

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 1

Eleven persons of Tablighi Jamaat have been booked under Sections 118 and 269 for curfew violation at Nerva in Shimla district.

They were travelling in a vehicle without curfew passes and intercepted at the Jhamrari barrier. They were on their way back home to Kaidi and Bhranu villages in Nerva from Paonta Sahib.

All of them have been quarantined at Panchayat Bhawan, Nerva, and have shown no symptoms of Covid-19, said SP, Shimla, Omapati Jamwal.

Investigations are underway to know if there were more who participated in the congregation. However, it was clear that they had not visited Delhi.

Some locals opposed bringing them to Panchayat Bhawan and stated that they should have been quarantined near the border but the administration convinced the residents that they would not come in contact with outsiders.

However, the residents fear that other people from Muslim-dominated villages of Kumra, Kothmal and Bijjar in Dewat panchayat in Chopal might have attended the Jamaat conference.

As many as 167 persons of Tablighi Jamaat and other Muslim communities, who had travelled to Delhi and other states, have been quarantined. These include 53 in Baddi, 32 in Sirmaur, 35 in Una, 23 in Shimla, 10 each in Chamba and Kangra and one in Mandi, said DGP SR Mardi.

He appealed to the people in quarantine not to go out during curfew relaxation period and asked the residents to report their movement on WhatsApp number 9459100100. Strict action would be taken against such persons, he warned.

An active case finding campaign had been started in the district which would continue for seven days, he said adding that a team of two members would go door-to-door to find out suspected cases.