Assam is faced with a fresh challenge apart from Tablighi returnees: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Tablighis from other States are also in Assam

Corona positive cases rise to 20 in State

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: State Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that Assam is faced with a fresh challenge – apart from the Nizamuddin Tablighi returnees, Tablighis from other States did enter Assam from March 21-22, and three of them have tested corona positive. The total number of corona positive cases in the State so far is 20.

Talking to the media on Friday on the status of threat perception to the State from the virus, Sarma said, “It’s in deed a fresh challenge for us to trace all those Tablighis who entered the State from other States from March 21-22. Our job doesn’t end in tracing them. We need to trace the villages which they have visited. Tablighis from other States visit villages in Assam and impart religious teachings.”

The Minister has said that the problem of tracing the 15 Nizamuddin returnees is over. “We’ve traced all of them and their families. Now the fresh problem is from Tablighis who entered Assam from other States and visited various villages for religious teachings. It’s indeed a difficult task trace all those who mingled with the outside Tablighis,” he said.

On the four new corona positive cases detected on Friday, Himanta said, “Three of them are Tablighis from UP taking shelter in a masjid in Nalbari. They’ve been identified as Md Rijwan, Md Sharukh and Md Hameed. The fourth corona patient is Ashraf Ali of South Salmara. He is an associate of Tablighi.”

On the threat perception from Tablighis in Assam, Sarma said, “The Tablighis in Assam from other States and the ones who have returned from Nizamuddin are like human bombs. Even as many of them don’t show corona symptoms now, some of them are carriers of the virus that may infect others.”

On allegations in the social media regarding ‘forceful’ quarantine of people, Sarma said, “There has been no forceful detention to anyone. They’ve been quarantined in accordance with corona guidelines. Fourteen-day observation for all suspected carriers of the virus is a must. They need to cooperate with our health officials. This is not an issue to be politicized. Many of the Tablighis kept in upper floors of buildings spit down. The practice is fraught with infecting others. We don’t know as to why they behave this way.”

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