Coronavirus Pandemic | Government Blacklists 960 Tablighi Jamaat Foreigner Members, Cancels Visas

The Home Ministry has blacklisted 960 foreigners were involved in Tablighi Jamaat activities despite being on a tourist visa. Their visas have also been cancelled and the Delhi Police and DGPs of all concerned states have been directed to legal action against them. These foreigners participated in the congregation violating their visa conditions. The Tablighi Jamaat activists who have been blacklisted include 9 British, 4 American, 6 Chinese, 3 French nationals, 379 Indonesians and 110 Bangladeshis.

The action will be taken against them under the Foreigners Act and the Disaster Management Act. "The home ministry has blacklisted 960 foreigners and their Indian visas have also been cancelled for their involvement in Tablighi Jamaat activities while coming on tourist visas," the home minister's office tweeted in Hindi.

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These foreigners are among 1,306 people who attended the congregation, organised by the Tablighi Jamaat at the Nizamuddin Markaz. This has led to a sudden rise in number of coronavirus positive cases in different parts of the country.

Meanwhile, Railways is scrambling to provide information regarding thousands of passengers who travelled on five trains with people who participated in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, many of whom have tested positive. All these trains began from Delhi between March 13 and March 19 - the Duronto Express to Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, the Grand Trunk Express to Chennai, the Tamil Nadu Express to Chennai, New Delhi-Ranchi Rajdhani Express and the AP Sampark Kranti Express.

Also Read | Coronavirus Pandemic | Government Blacklists 960 Tablighi Jamaat Foreigner Members, Cancels Visas

While there are yet no definite numbers with the railways on the actual number of people who could have come in contact with the participants of this event, sources say that each train carried around 1000-1200 passengers and other staff members which could put them all at risk. With PTI Inputs