Probe ordered after social distancing allegedly flouted
Social distancing norms under the Covid-19 protocol were allegedly flouted at a grand majlis (religious meeting) organised at the centrally protected Bada Imambda in Lucknow on Sunday night.
Police said a probe had been ordered and legal action would be initiated in case of any violation of the Covid protocol. The current Covid 19 protocol permits a maximum of 100 people at religious functions.
The police are scanning videos and images of the gathering to analyse the total number of people, who took part in the majlis, followed by ‘mourning’, which is part of religious traditions in the ongoing two months and eight days of Muharram, which would continue till October 27.
“An FIR would be lodged against those found flouting Covid protocols. We are also scanning videos and images to calculate the total strength of the gathering against the permission of 100,” said IP Singh, assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Chowk.
Officials with Hussainabad and Allied Trust (HAT) said that people began pouring in since evening. The number swelled further after prominent Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad reached the Bada Imambada at around 8pm to address the majlis.
“Soon, the gathering reached thousands. Police and administrative officials, who were managing the gathering, however, remained mute spectators,” an
HAT official said, pleading anonymity.
HAT officials said almost an hour-long majlis was followed by ‘matam’ (mourning) in which people, largely from Shia community gather on the premises of Bada Imambada to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain in the Battle of Karbala in Iraq.
Going by a rough estimate, officials said over 3,000 people participated in the majlis and mourning on Sunday night.
“Bada Imambada is being allowed to proceed with traditional religious rituals with a maximum 100 people from September 21 onwards. It should be ensured that people in the gathering wear masks, maintain social distancing, wash hands properly and thermal scanning is done,” said the district magistrate’s (DM) order, dated Sep
tember 25, 2020, on holding religious gatherings at the Bada