Covid-19: Belagavi police book five Indonesian couples linked to Tablighi congregation

Shreyas HS | TNN | Apr 6, 2020, 22:33 IST

While five men are isolated at a mosque in Auto Nagar in city, the women are placed at a house in Old City.

BELAGAVI: Ten Indonesian nationals quarantined in city after arriving from Tablighi Jamaat congregation have been booked for violating visa regulations by Belagavi police on Sunday night.
The Tablighi delegates had arrived in Belagavi on March 16 and held several preaching sessions from a house in the district. Five men and their spouses were present at Nizamuddin Markaz from March 13 to March 15.
According to sources in the Tablighi community, these 'Islamic revivalist movement' preachers held sessions for nearly a week before they were quarantined. While five men are isolated at a mosque in Auto Nagar in city, the women are placed at a house in Old City. However, neither of them showed any symptoms nor they have tested positive for Covid-19 disease.
After a week into isolation, Malmaruti police have registered an FIR against foreign nationals for violating visa norms. All the ten had arrived to India allegedly securing tourist visa despite their purpose of visit being religious.
Belagavi City police commissioner, B S Lokesh Kumar while talking to TOI said, “Ten Indonesians have been booked for violating tourist visa provisions on Sunday night.”
They have been booked under various provisions of the Foreigners Act 1946, the Passport (Entry into India) Act 1920, and Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939. Violations of these provisions including indulging in activities other than tourism after arriving on a tourist visa or overstaying are considered offence under these acts. They are punishable with penalty ranging from $300 to $500, said a police officer.