4 Jamaatis test positive, four Old City areas sealed in Uttar Pradesh

TNN | Updated: Apr 6, 2020, 09:00 IST

Police deployed in Phoolbagh in Kaiserbagh

LUCKNOW: Hours after four of 50 Tablighi Jamaat members from Jaipur holed up in mosques and a residential house in Old City tested positive for covid-19, four localities were completely sealed on Sunday. At least 700 policemen, including provincial armed constabulary (PAC) personnel were swiftly deployed to enforce sealing and sanitization of these areas — Phoolbagh, Alamnagar, Gulabnagar and Astabal.
Astbal in Wazirganj area was sealed as a precautionary measure even though lab reports of 13 Tablighis, who were holed up in Mohammadia mosque are still awaited. All 50 Jamaat members have been quarantined and their presence at the Nizamuddin Markaz is being verified, said police.

On April 3, the Sadar area bordering Lucknow Cantonment was sealed after 12 Jamaat members taking shelter in Alijaan mosque in Qasaibada tested positive for the virus.
District administration officials said, over 10,000-15,000 people reside in the four sealed localities of Old City and a health team is being set up to launch a survey.
Lucknow police commissioner, Sujeet Pandey, said, police and administration are enforcing a complete lockdown and restricting movement of people in these four areas. “Teams of Nagar Nigam and health department have also begun sanitisation drives,” said Pandey.
Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) had tipped off police about the presence of 50 Tablighis from Jaipur in mosques in these areas.
Assistant commissioner of police, Kaiserbagh, IP Singh said, 200 policemen have been deployed in Phoolbagh area after two of 12 Jamaat members holed up in Rehmaniya mosque tested positive.
SHO Talkatora, Dhahanajay Singh said one person of the 12 who stayed at Pir Bakka mosque in Alamnagar area had tested positive. On the other hand, SHO Wazirganj, Deepak Dubey said, medical reports of 13 members from the Jaipur jamaat, who stayed at Mohammadiya mosque in Astbal area. But Astabal was sealed as a precautionary step. At least 100 cops were deployed at 14 entry and exit points in the area. In Saadatganj, nine Jamaat members had come to stay at the Gulabnagar house of a resident. One was found to be positive, said SHO, Saadatganj, MP Singh. He also said 125 cops were pressed into service at 12 points to enforce complete shutdown.