Foreigners linked to Tablighi not to be deported now

“We will take action against them under the Disaster Management Act and the Foreigners Act. So at this stage there is no question of deportation. But when the issue of deportation is taken up against them, they will be subject to standard medical protocol (of making sure they are COVID-19 negative),” Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry Punya Salila Shrivastava said.She said the state DGPs and Commissioners of Police have been directed to take strict against the foreigners who had violated the visa conditions

The official added that 360 more foreign nationals who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event left the country but the process of blacklisting has been initiated against them too. Meanwhile, the Home Ministry has sent a communication to all the States’ police chiefs to take strict action against the foreign nationals who allegedly endangered the lives of others by their activities after contracting the virus.

According to the Home Ministry, foreigners had entered the country on the strength of tourist visas but engaged in Tablighi activities at its Nizamuddin headquarters that are feared to drive the outbreak despite an unprecedented lockdown. “Their activities have endangered many lives in the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency and violated visa rules and the Foreigners Act,” the letter noted. “In view of the above, it is advised that legal action against all these foreigners and Indian nationals involved in the matter must be taken under the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 as well as for violation of statutory orders issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and for offences committed under relevant sections of IPC as applicable in this matter,” the letter by the Home Ministry said