The mosque has been locked and all the 10 members have been put under quarantine. | Photo Credit: Times Now

Key Highlights Dr Bhaskar: We have checked all 10 foreign nationals for any symptoms of coronavirus and there is nothing to worry Three persons have been named in the FIR including city cleric Moulana Nafees Local residents say Jamat members could not inform police due to 'Janta curfew' and subsequent lockdown

Meerut: With the coronavirus pandemic gripping India and the world, a tense situation arose when 10 foreign nationals were found at a mosque in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday night.

The 10 African nationals, who were in India for missionary work as part of Tablighi Jamat, include five from Sudan, four from Djibouti and one from Kenya. They were found in a mosque in Mawana town of Meerut district.



Panic gripped local administration after reports emerged that 10 foreign nationals were residing in Bilal Mosque of Mohalla Hiralal in Mawana. A team of senior police and health department officials immediately rushed to the mosque to take stock of the situation.

"We have checked all 10 foreign nationals for any symptoms of coronavirus. So far there is nothing to worry as all of them are normal," said Health Inspector Dr Satish Bhaskar.

Case against those who hid information

Meanwhile, Mawana police have lodged a case against three locals including city cleric Moulana Nafees, a local doctor Naimuddin Saifi. The three men have been booked under Sections 188 (Disobedience), 270 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease) 271 (Disobedience to quarantine rule) of Indian Penal Code (IPC), Foreigners Act and Epidemic Diseases Act.

The African nationals were residing in the city since March 17 and did not register themselves with the local police. Police have now seized the passports of all 10 foreigners.

Foreigners under quarantine

Currently, all 10 Tablighi Jamat members are under quarantine in the mosque. The mosque has been locked from outside so as to prevent local Muslims from gathering for prayers and prevent any possible infection.

When contacted, a local told Times Now Digital that the foreigners could not inform the local police due to 'Janata curfew' and then subsequent lockdown. Others claimed that the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) was informed about their stay.

"We have seized their passports and put them under quarantine. A case has been filed against three local residents. We are probing the matter. All these foreign nationals are also likely to be named in the FIR," said Investigating Officer, Sub-Inspector, Dinesh Kumar.

On the other hand, City cleric, Moulana Nafees, said he has nothing to do with this case as he is not involved in the day-to-day running of the Tablighi Jamat.