Nizamuddin maulana Saad at large, his viral audio tape a shame on humanity
New Delhi : There are doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, media officials and police officers who have been continuously trying all possible measures to ensure the safety of people from coronavirus pandemic; and then there are people like Nizamuddin maulana Saad who are not finding the seriousness in the virus that brought the world to almost standstill position.
Nizamuddin Markaz cleric Maulana Saad has gone missing since March 28. He was served a notice by Delhi police after which he has been untraceable. On Tuesday, an FIR was registered against him and seven others. Delhi Police has initiated a search operation to trace down his movement.
Meanwhile, an audiotape has gone viral in which cleric Maulana Saad, who led a huge religious congregation in Nizamuddin West earlier this month; he can be heard provoking people of not following the instructions announced by the administration over coronavirus pandemic.
In the audio clip, the cleric can be heard advising people to not leave mosques amid fears of the spread of the coronavirus. He went on to say that no disease was going to harm them.
Saad said leaving mosques would bring no good. Do not leave mosques even if trusted doctors ask you to, the cleric said. In fact, he further said there was no better place to die than in a mosque. The audio clip is believed to be from March 18.
The Markaz (center) in the south Delhi neighbourhood organized a Tabligh-e-Jamaat from March 1-15 and at least 2,000 people, including foreigners and Indians from across the country, attended the gathering. On Sunday night, many residents of the center started showing symptoms for COVID-19 and police and paramilitary officials locked down the area but authorities fear a possible spread of the virus.
The Telangana government late Monday said six people who attended the congregation died due to the virus.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said 24 people who took part in the Jamaat have tested positive and over 440 residing at the Markaz have been hospitalized after they showed symptoms for the disease.
