Bengaluru: In a shocking incident in Bengaluru on Wednesday, a group of state government health workers administering COVID-19 inspection in the city were supposedly surrounded by residents and manhandled. This intimidation of health workers allegedly after an announcement was made from a neighborhood mosque has heightened concerns about the safety of those who are on the frontline in the war against the spread of COVID-19.

There are also worries about the spread of infection as hundreds of people in Karnataka attended an event organized by an Islamic sect in Delhi's Nizamuddin.

The people who were part of the event have been strictly appealed to contact the authorities. Nearly 300 people in Karnataka who went to Delhi have been identified and 11 are positive with the infection.

Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa taking account of the shameful incident met Muslim leaders to discuss the situation.

BS Yediyurappa said, "Today I met with Muslim leaders and legislators and sought their cooperation in containing coronavirus in the state. MLAs CM Ibrahim, NA Haris, Zameer Ahmed, Nazeer Ahmed, and Rizwan Arshad were present. They have responded positively and assured to fully cooperate".

The Chief Minister further added, "They have agreed to give details of those who visited Nizamuddin and to convince them to undergo tests for COVID-19 and go into quarantine. They said they have held meetings with religious leaders and created awareness. They are asking members of the community to offer prayers at home and maintain social distancing,".

"Every person regardless of religion, caste, the community has to maintain social distancing during the lockdown. They (MLAs) have agreed to appeal to the community to cooperate with health workers," Yediyurappa said.

The Chief Minister appealed to people of the state to not heed to any rumors. He said let us all follow precautionary measures and win the battle against COVID-19.

A similar incident was reported from Madhya Pradesh. Healthcare workers and civic officials were attacked by a mob of angry locals in an Indore neighborhood on Wednesday, as they visited the area to screen residents for signs of novel Coronavirus infection.

Karnataka has so far had 125 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including the 11 who had been to Nizamuddin. Three have died in three districts.