UP: 57 foreign Jamaatis freed in Saharanpur

MEERUT: A local court in Saharanpur has set aside the visa norms violation charges slapped by UP Police against 57 followers of Tablighi Jamaat paving way for their return to their countries after two months of incarceration.
These Jamaat followers belonged to Kyrgyzstan, Bhutan, Thailand, Indonesia and several other countries. They had come to India on tourist visa to participate in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Nizamuddin Markaz which was held in mid of March.Later, the area became a hotbed of Covid-19 and all those who came from outside the country were booked.
Police in Saharanpur had filed charge-sheet against the 57 foreigners on June 8. They were booked for violating visa norms under the Foreigners Act and under section 188, 269, 271 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Epidemic and Diseases Act. The court convicted them under IPC section 188 and epidemic act and sentenced them for one month. Since they have already served two months in temporary jail, they were set free, Saharanpur SSP Dinesh Kumar P confirmed.
According to sources, the incarcerated Jamaatis decided to give a written confession in favour of the charges framed against them instead of putting the case for trial as police had presented its charge-sheet in the court on June 10.
“The court found some charges against the accused did not hold. The court spoke to them via video-conferencing and asked how they would like to proceed with the case. They unanimously agreed to tender apology and requested for return to their own country. Their confession was recorded, following which they were convicted under section 188 and relevant sections of the Epidemic act,” Jaanisaar Ahmed, lawyer representing the foreigners said.
“Having already served more than two months in the temporary jail, the foreigners were released on Saturday evening,” he said.
“The administration in Saharanpur including the local intelligence unit is in touch with respective embassies to send them back to their respective countries. Some embassies have made temporary arrangements for stay before they board the plane back home,” lawyer Ahmed said.
Last month, a delegation led by Kyrgyzstan ambassador Asein Isaev, first secretary Toktobolot Zhumaliev had visited the temporary jail in Saharanpur to meet 21 Kyrgyz nationals lodged here.
The visiting ambassador had assured all possible help to bring them back.