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Pakistan: Tablighi Jamaat member stabs policeman while trying to escape quarantine after 2 dozen members test positive for coronavirus

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: Tablighi Jamaat member stabs policeman while trying to escape quarantine after 2 dozen members test positive for coronavirus

On Sunday, a member of the Tablighi Jamaat stabbed a police officer SHO Ashraf Malik Maakhi, with a knife after he reportedly tried to escape a quarantine facility. The officer was then shifted to the DHQ Hospital in Layyah and is said to be in a stable condition. The assailant was apprehended by the cops from Swabi district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan.

As per reports, 27 out of 35 members of the Tablighi Jamaat tested positive for the Wuhan Coronavirus in Raiwind in Lahore in the Punjab region of Pakistan. The Islamic outfit had organised a religious congregation for 1200 people. The event was later called off thus making it difficult for the members to reach home, amidst the government-sanctioned lockdown. The Markaz was sealed and turned into a quarantine facility, housing 25 people.

Earlier in March, the Tablighi Jamaat organised a religious congregation of 1.5 lakh people on the outskirts of Lahore. The mass gathering resulted in transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants, in complete breach of social distancing, ate and slept in close quarters.

Two Palestinian citizens who attended the meeting tested positive for Coronavirus, thus becoming the first case of the outbreak in the Gaza Strip which is one of the most densely populated areas with poverty levels as high as 50%. The patients were shifted to an isolation ward at a hospital in the city of Rafah. Around 1,270 people were quarantined after they entered Gaza from Israel and Egypt. This had resulted in a state of panic in the region with limited testing capabilities.

Closer home in India, around 200 people from the Nizamuddin Dargah and surrounding areas were taken to various hospitals in Delhi on Monday after they showed suspected coronavirus symptoms. As per reports, the area around the Nizamuddin Dargah and the Mosque near it has been cordoned off by Delhi police. As of now, at least 24 people have been tested positive from those evacuated from Nizamuddin. The number is expected to go significantly higher.

Coronavirus: 6 from Telangana who were at Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin die due to COVID-19 infection

OpIndia Staff
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Coronavirus: 6 from Telangana who were at Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin die due to COVID-19 infection

On Monday, 6 people from Telangana who attended a religious gathering at Markaz in Delhi’s Nizamuddin area between March 13 and March 15 had reportedly died of Coronavirus infection. This has taken the death toll in the state from 2 to 8 in just 48 hours.

According to a statement issued Telangana Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has urged other participants of the congregation at Tablighi Jamaat to come forward and get themselves tested. The state government has said that the cost of the tests will be borne by the government.

Special teams headed by district collectors have identified people who may have been exposed to the 6 victims of Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic. They have now been shifted to hospitals for testing and treatment. The Telangana Government has also appealed to people who were a part of the religious gathering to inform the authorities as early as possible.

Around 200 people from the Nizamuddin Dargah and surrounding areas were taken to various hospitals in Delhi on Monday after they showed suspected coronavirus symptoms. As per reports, the area around the Nizamuddin Dargah and the Mosque near it has been cordoned off by Delhi police. Large-scale sanitisation operation is currently underway.

Earlier this month, several hundred people from across India and abroad had attended the Islamic religious conference by the “Tablighi Jamaat” preachers at the Banglewali Masjid, the Mosque near the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah.

The Mosque reportedly regularly hosts Islamic followers and preachers from all over India and from many nations in the world. The event also saw visitors from Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan. On Friday, 6 persons were tested positive for coronavirus in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Salman Khan’s 38-year-old nephew passes away after complaining of breathlessness, media reports suggest coronavirus as possible cause, family denies

OpIndia Staff
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Salman Khan’s 38-year-old nephew passes away after complaining of breathlessness, media reports suggest coronavirus as possible cause, family denies

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s 38-year-old nephew Abdullah passed away in Mumbai after complaining of breathlessness. As per Bhaskar report, Abdullah lived in Khan Compound in Indore. He was admitted in Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on Sunday after he complained of breathlessness. Owing to difficulty in breathing, he was put on ventilator on Sunday night. As per the report, his coronavirus tests are awaited.

The Dabanng 3 actor took to social media to mourn the death of his nephew. As per India Today report, Abdullah suffered from diabetes and was shifted to Mumbai after he felt uneasy two days back. However, India Today report citing sources in the family states that Abdullah died of heart-related ailment and not the Wuhan Coronavirus.

However, a Navbharat Times report suggests that Abdullah was admitted in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambadni Hospital and died of lung cancer. Abdullah is the son of Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan’s sister. Nai Duniya, citing Salim Khan’s brother states that Abdullah did not die of coronavirus and that the post-mortem reports will reveal the truth.

We’re not rich like US, but we’ve Islam: Pakistan PM announces ways to fight Coronavirus

OpIndia Staff
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We’re not rich like US, but we’ve Islam: Pakistan PM announces ways to fight Coronavirus

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his address to his nation on Monday, March 30, praised China, the country which unleashed Wuhan coronavirus on rest of the world, for tackling the deadly virus by ‘locking down 2 crore people’.

At around 3 minutes into the video, lying about Prime Minister Modi’s statement apologising to Indians about hardships faced during the lockdown, Khan claims that PM Modi “apologised for announcing lockdown without any preparations.” Truth is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to nation did apologise to the country for lockdown, but that was for the hardship it is causing. He, in fact, has been quite unapologetic about the lockdown that was necessary to ensure that the virus does not spread.

Then listing out ways how Pakistan is planning to combat China’s Wuhan coronavirus, Khan says that while Pakistan is not as rich as America, it has its ‘Imaan’ (faith i.e. Islam). He then says that the second strength Pakistan has is ‘youth’. “We have to use these two strengths to fight coronavirus,” he says adding that youth in Pakistan can help fight the virus as the country has a lot of young people.

Khan admits that while the PMO does not have any data regarding the coronavirus but is monitoring the data and asked for a week’s time to announce the future trends of the virus. At around 8 minute 30 seconds into the video, Imran Khan, while addressing the nation, informs them that coronavirus is a threat only for the old and people who are already sick. There is no medical evidence to suggest this. “Of these, only 4-5% people need to be hospitalised. Remaining can be cured by self-quarantine,” Khan informs his citizens. Again, there is no medical evidence to back this claim.

The cricketer turned politician then announces a relief fund to fight coronavirus, just like his Indian counterpart about whom he lied earlier in his speech. “The account details are being flashed on your screen but it will be operational after two days,” he says. Just normal Pakistan things. “No questions will be asked about the money you deposit here. You will also get tax relief on this,” Khan says.

Khan then informs that the poor who need ration amidst probable lockdown, could reach out to the government through Facebook page. “On one side we will have space where people who are sitting in villages and need ration can register themselves there. On other side, those who want to donate can register. We will then do the matchmaking,” Pakistan Prime Minister said. He did not make it clear whether there will be a government website or helpline number for such coordination especially for those who are so poor that they may not be able to afford to be on Facebook.

Delhi Government to ask Police to register FIR against Maulana of Markaz, Nizamuddin, suspected ground zero for hundreds of potential Coronavirus infections

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Government to ask Police to register FIR against Maulana of Markaz, Nizamuddin, suspected ground zero for hundreds of potential Coronavirus infections

Delhi Government will request Delhi Police to register an FIR against the Maulana of Markaz, Nizamuddin for violating lockdown conditions imposed in the wake of the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic, it has said. “It has come to our knowledge that administrators of Nizammuddin Markaz violated Coronavirus Lockdown conditions and now several positive cases have been found. Strong action would be taken against those in charge of this establishment,” Delhi Government said.

“Lockdown was imposed in entire India on 24th March and it was the duty of every owner and administrator of every hotel, guesthouse, hostel and similar establishment to maintain social distancing. It looks like social distancing and quarantine protocols was not practiced here,” the Delhi Government said. “By this gross act of negligence, many lives have been endangered. It was the responsibility of every citizen to proactively avoid such gathering of people during the lockdown and this is nothing but a criminal act. After the centre informed us about the first positive patient and requested assistance we moved all symptomatic patients to our medical facilities and as a safety precaution all non symptomatic contacts have been moved to the quarantine centres,” Delhi Government added.

Earlier, it was reported that between three hundred and four hundred people had attended a religious gathering at Markaz and 163 people, likely to be infected with the Chinese Coronavirus, had been admitted to Lok Nayak Hospital, Delhi. In a letter addressed to Delhi ACP Atul Kumar, the Markaz said that they were in compliance with all prohibitory orders issued by the government. “Presently several Indian as well as foreign Tableeghi volunteers belonging to different states of India and different countries remain confined and isolated inside the Markaz,” the letter said.

Dr Mohammad Shoaib, spokesperson of the Nizamuddin Markaz said, “Yesterday, we provided a list of names to the administration of those who had any health issue, including cold and fever. Some of them have been admitted in the hospital on the basis of age and travel history. We don’t have any confirmed COVID-19 case till now.”

Earlier this month, several hundred people from across India and abroad had attended the Islamic religious conference by the “Tableeghi Jamaat” preachers at the Banglewali Masjid, the Mosque near the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah. Many cases of coronavirus deaths have now been traced to the Muslim event at the Banglewali Mosque which had seen a large gathering. The Mosque is the global centre for the Tablighi network and the origin of the Tablighi Jamaat, as per Wikipedia.

The Tableeghi Jamaat has emerged as a great medium for spreading the virus. Hundreds of people across the world have contracted the virus after attending events organized by the Islamic organization.

Karnataka: People quarantined at home have to send govt their selfies and GPS coordinates every hour, declares state government

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: People quarantined at home have to send govt their selfies and GPS coordinates every hour, declares state government

The Karnataka Government has announced that every single citizen under home quarantine in the state will have to upload their ‘selfies’ on a government app every hour and failing to do so, teams will reach the homes of such defaulters and they will be liable to be shifted to designated quarantine centers. An exception will be made between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. when people usually sleep. The announcement was made by the state medical education minister Dr. K. Sudhakar.

The people quarantined at their homes will also need to send their GPS coordinates along with their selfies, announced the Karnataka government. “Every selfie sent by home-quarantine persons is seen by a government photo-verification team. So, if wrong photos are sent, defaulters will be shifted to mass quarantine centres,” Sudhakar said in his press release.

The announcement by the Karnataka government comes after numerous people have dodged quarantines at their homes and jeopardized the health of other people. While the move could be seen as a violation of privacy by some, such extraordinary measures have also been taken by Taiwan in order to combat the spread of the pandemic.

BACK AGAIN: After Ramayana and Mahabharata, Indian superhero Shaktimaan set to return on Doordarshan

OpIndia Staff
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BACK AGAIN: After Ramayana and Mahabharata, Indian superhero Shaktimaan set to return on Doordarshan

Doordarshan is all set to re-telecast episodes of India’s superhero Shaktimaan in the wake of the nationwide lockdown featuring Mukesh Khanna in the lead role. The episodes will be one hour long and will be aired at 1 p.m. daily on the DD National Network from the month of April.

Earlier, episodes of the Ramayana and Mahabharata had also started airing to provide people locked up in their homes with some quality wholesome entertainment amidst the nationwide lockdown in the wake of the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic. The serials based on the great Hindu epics had enjoyed great popularity when they had been aired for the first time. The first episode of the Ramayana had crashed the Doordarshan website on its first day.

Shaktimaan enjoyed immense popularity among children. He is a superhero who gained superhuman powers through meditation and the five elemental objects of nature: Space, Earth, Air, Fire, Water. In everyday life, he disguises his true power under the alter ego of “Pandit Gangadhar Vidhyadhar Mayadhar Omkarnath Shastri”, a photographer for the newspaper Aaj Ki Aawaz. Shaktimaan’s arch nemesis is Tamraj Kilvish, the embodiment of evil and the dark forces that operate in the world. Kilvish’s trademark line is, “Andhera Kaayam Rahe (May Darkness continue to prevail”.

The title track of the show is still sung widely by those who are fans of the show. The lyrics of the track goes, “Adbhut adamya saahas ki pari bhaasha hai, Ye mitati maanavta ki aasha hai. Ye shrishti ki shakti ka vardaan hai, Ye avtar nahi hai ye insaan hai, Shaktimaan Shaktimaan Shaktimaan.”

Aajtak falsely calls food preparation by Jhandewalan Temple Trust and Sewa Bharati volunteers for needy as Kejriwal’s “Community Kitchen”

OpIndia Staff
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Aajtak falsely calls food preparation by Jhandewalan Temple Trust and Sewa Bharati volunteers for needy as Kejriwal’s “Community Kitchen”

Even as Arvind Kejriwal government is in the crosshairs for allegedly facilitating migrant worker’s travel to Uttar Pradesh and creating a law and order situation amidst nationwide lockdown against the Wuhan coronavirus, mainstream media channel AajTak went into raptures about Delhi’s AAP government’s initiatives to feed the needy and underprivileged ones amidst stricture lockdown.

In a report (it has been changed now), AajTak showed video footage and pictures of food preparation, falsely attributing to it to Arvind Kejriwal, claiming that the AAP government had commissioned a “Community Kitchen” in Delhi for providing food daily to about 10,000 hungry and needy people in Delhi. The report extolled Arvind Kejriwal for taking “exceptional measures” to provide food and shelters to the migrant workers in Delhi.

However, the video footage and images shared by AajTak were not from Arvind Kejriwal’s “Community Kitchen”. The photos and video were of the food preparation done by Jhandewalan Temple Trust and members of Sewa Bharati which was to be served to the needy and hungry people amid the coronavirus lockdown in the National Capital.

The Jhandewalan Temple Trust overlooks the Jhandewalan Temple, a Hindu temple in Delhi’s Karolbagh area, dedicated to goddess Aadi Shakti. It is among the oldest temple in Delhi and located on Jhandewalan road. The food was prepared by the volunteers and temple devotees. However, AajTak incorrectly ascribed their charitable activity to Arvind Kejriwal government.

However, after being called out for its false reportage, AajTak promptly rectified its report, giving due credit to the Jhandewalan Temple Trust for feeding 10,000 people per day. The article toned down its flattery for Arvind Kejriwal government, saying that various non-governmental organisations such as temple trusts have stepped up to assist the migrant workers by providing them with food and shelter.

Speaking to OpIndia, one of the full-time members of Sewa Bharati, Bhupendra claimed that the kitchen has been set up since March 22 where daily food for 30,000 people is being prepared. He also issued a clarification claiming that besides Jhandewalan Temple Trust and Sewa Bharati, there is no third party involved in the operation of the kitchen.

Of late, Kejriwal government was under severe criticism for allegedly transporting migrant workers to the Uttar Pradesh border, causing a grave public health crisis as thousands of workers lined up at the border amidst the coronavirus lockdown. The Yogi Adityanath government quickly swung into action, commissioning 1000 buses to take the migrant workers waiting at the border to their respective villages. The Uttar Pradesh government later accused Arvind Kejriwal led AAP government in Delhi of playing petty politics, lying and spreading rumours, risking the lives of migrant workers at the time of a crisis as serious as the Coronavirus pandemic.

‘Bakwas Band Karo​’: CM Yogi Adityanath reprimands Noida DM over Coronavirus preparations, DM transferred after requesting leave

OpIndia Staff
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‘Bakwas Band Karo​’: CM Yogi Adityanath reprimands Noida DM over Coronavirus preparations, DM transferred after requesting leave

In a video that has gone viral on social media, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath can be heard rebuking the District Magistrate strongly over preparation to tackle the Coronavirus outbreak. The rebuke came at a meeting to analyse the increasing COVID-19 cases in the region and the recent migrant crisis at the UP-Delhi border. Yogi told the DM to stop speaking nonsense and not keep on blaming each other. It was all captured on camera.

Yogi told the Noida DM, “Bakwaas band karo apna (Stop speaking nonsense). You have ruined the atmosphere here by doing such nonsense. Instead of fulfilling your responsibilities, you blame each other. And we had issued an alert two months earlier here, for the whole state.” It is not clear what the context of Yogi’s words were and in response to what they were said. But it is quite clear that he was very angry with the person his words were directed at.

As per reports, the Noida DM has now asked for a leave of three months and requested that he be relieved of his duties. In a letter to the General Secretary, B.N. Singh, the DM, has said that he does not wish to continue in the position due to personal reasons. He also requested for someone else to be appointed on his behalf.

Source: Aditya Raj Kaul/Twitter

Meanwhile, Singh has been transferred and Suhas LY will be the new district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary R.K. Tiwari said.

Gautam Budh Nagar has witnessed a spurt in cases and it has the highest number of cases among all regions of the Uttar Pradesh. As per Covid19org, the district had 30 cases as of the time of writing this report. The district has emerged as one of the hotspots for the spread of the virus in the state.

BMC directs dead bodies of Coronavirus patients to be cremated irrespective of religion, circular withdrawn after NCP minister Nawab Malik steps in

OpIndia Staff
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BMC directs dead bodies of Coronavirus patients to be cremated irrespective of religion, circular withdrawn after NCP minister Nawab Malik steps in

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation commissioner Praveen Pardeshi today issued a directive mandating cremation of dead bodies of Coronavirus patients regardless of their religion as one of the containment measures to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus in Mumbai.

In a circular issued regarding the “Disposal of Dead bodies of Covid-19”, the city civic body decreed that all those who have died of COVID-19 will be cremated irrespective of their religion, strongly advising against following the rituals that entail touching of the dead body. The edict read that the order was taken after it was brought to the notice of Commissioner Pardeshi that all the burial grounds in the city were located in highly dense localities with a high risk of contamination of dense community/residential areas in the vicinity.

Notice by Municipal Corporation

In addition, the circular also highlighted that the burial of a body packed in a plastic bag delays early decomposition of the body and poses a threat of further transmission of the virus. The notice called upon the Assistant Commissioners to inform about the same to local leaders, adding that the funeral for the deceased should not involve more than 5 people.

Read: Wuhan coronavirus outbreak: 12 members of Maharashtra family test positive, 4 of them had returned from Haj

It also instructed the hospital authority to inform the local police station before handing over the body to the relatives, contingent upon the confirmation received from the family members of abiding by the above instructions.

The notice also added that if someone is insistent on burying the dead body of a COVID-19 patient, he will be permitted only if the dead body is taken out of the Mumbai city’s jurisdiction in a burial ground and transport and other arrangements are made by the same person, following all the mandated guidelines and advised precautions as given for the disposal of dead bodies of Covid-19 patients.

However, as expected, the circular seem to have been withdrawn after the outrage of ‘secular’ alliances of Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. NCP leader and Minority minister of Maharashtra, Nawab Malik tweeted about the same.

Nawab Malik wrote, “This is to bring to your kind attention that I have spoken to @mybmc Commissioner Mr. Praveen Pardeshi regarding the circular issued by him for cremation of those who have lost their lives due to the #CoronaVirus.”

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