Badaun: While India continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic, visuals of large gatherings are still being reported from different parts of the country. In a new instance, a large congregation was witnessed at the funeral of an Islamic cleric, Qazi Hazrat Abdul Hameed Mohammed Salimul Qadri, in the Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh.
Thousands of followers of the cleric were seen flouting social distancing norms and other Covid protocols as they gathered together to attend the funeral.
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Salimul Qadri, of Dargah Alia Qadria had died early morning on Sunday at the age of 65. Several videos that have been shared on social media show thousands of people who joined his funeral procession without wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing.
Here's a video shared by a Twitter user.
There was also a ruckus among the followers of Qazi Hazrat Abdul Hameed Mohammed Salimul Qadri, over taking his mortal remains for the funeral.
The attendees thronged the madrasa Alia Qadria from Monday morning. Despite the Covid-induced curfew in place till May 17, the crowd at the funeral procession continued to swell with the police failing to prevent the gathering.
Thousands of people from all over the district are reported to have attended the funeral.
The police have filed a case against unknown persons after alleged videos of the funeral went viral on social media.
Additional Superintendent of Police, Pravin Chauhan, said that due to it being a religious matter and a funeral the police maintained restraint. But a case has now been registered against unknown persons and an investigation is underway.
Releasing a video statement, the police have ensured that strict action will be taken against violators caught using available evidence.