Zila Qazi's Funeral In UP's Badaun Draws Thousands, Social Distancing Goes For A Toss

The funeral of a Muslim cleric in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun, attended by tens of thousands on May 9, has raised fears of a super-spreader as the state battles a Covid-19 spiral. UP police launched investigations into the event after filing a First Information Report (FIR) on May 10. The cleric, Zila Qazi Hazrat Abdul Hamid Mohammad Salimul Qadri, died on May 9 afternoon. Within hours, thousands came from various parts of the state to Badaun. People violated all Covid-19 safety rules & an ongoing lockdown. They gathered at the mosque where the cleric's body was kept for public viewing. Few masks were seen in the teeming crowds, which amassed apparently without the knowledge of the administration or the police. An aerial view showed hardly any breathing space in the mass gathering. To fight Covid-19, the UP government has restricted the number of people at funerals to 20. The penalty for not wearing masks is Rs 1,000 the first time & Rs 10,000 for repeat offence.