Makassar, S Sulawesi (ANTARA) - Twenty-four Indian members of the Jamaah Tabligh have been placed under quarantine at the propagation center of the Jami Al Hidayah Mosque in Gowa District, South Sulawesi Province, as part of coronavirus countermeasures.
“It (The news) is true that Indian nationals are now under special surveillance. (We) have told the organizing committee that they should not (be allowed to) leave the area," said Gowa District head Adnan Purichta Ichsan Yasin Limpo on Monday.
The Indian nationals do not belong to the Jamaah Tabligh headquartered in Kerung-kerung, nor did they participate in the Global Ijtima of Asian Zone 2020, held in Pakkato, Gowa recently, he informed.
He said he believed the presence of Indian nationals in South Sulawesi would potentially increase risk of COVID-19 infections since the propagation center of the Jami Al Hidayah Mosque is a place where members of the Jamaah Tabligh gather.
As an anticipatory step, the military, police, and the village and sub-district administrative apparatuses have coordinated to put the Indian nationals into isolation, so they can be easily monitored amidst the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the district head said.
The 24 Indians had originally planned to return to New Delhi from Makassar via Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur in early April and May, 2020. However, they cancelled their plans after the Indian Government implemented a lockdown to stem the spread of coronavirus infections.
The quarantined Indian nationals are being monitored by security agencies and immigration authorities.
