Covid-19: Eight Malaysians stopped at Delhi airport
NATION

Sunday, 05 Apr 2020 5:33 PM MYT

PETALING JAYA: Eight Malaysians who attended a religious event in Delhi, India, were stopped at the Indira Gandhi International Airport from boarding a flight back home.

New Delhi Television (NDTV) reported that the Malaysians were linked to a religious gathering by the Tablighi Jamaat Centre at Nizamuddin in Delhi, which is seen as a hotspot for Covid-19 cases in India.

Citing sources, NDTV reported that the Malaysians had been hiding around Delhi after attending the event last month.

The Malaysians will be handed over to the Delhi police and health authorities for further investigations.


The Delhi police had been tracking mobile phone data to find those who had attended the event, or were in its vicinity.

The gathering, attended by some 9,000 people, has led to a number of Covid-19 infections despite the Indian government’s advice on social distancing.

India's home ministry said 960 foreigners have been blacklisted and their visas cancelled for their involvement in Tablighi Jamaat activities while on tourist visas.

The authorities said the foreigners had misused their tourist visas by participating in religious activities.

Legal proceedings would be initiated against workers under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, which involves misuse of visas.