400 Jamaat members deported in one week

NEWDELHI: At least 400 members of Tablighi Jamaat, who had attended a congregation at the markaz in south Delhi’s Nizamuddin in mid-march and were detained after their headquarters turned into a coronavirus disease (Covid-19) hot spot, have been deported to their home countries over the past one week.

Officials from the Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport said the 400 attendees were sent to Indonesia, Malaysia and to some European countries in around 10 flights.

Between February and March, at least 2,000 Tablighi Jamaat members from different countries had attended a gathering at the markaz in Nizamuddin.

According to an official from the airport, who wished not to be named, the process of sending Tabhligi Jamaat members back started on July 17.

“The first flight of deportees departed Delhi on July 17. As and when the courts keep releasing them through plea bargaining, and when the police return their passports, they will be sent back to their countries,” the official said.