Youth shot dead in Prayagraj for accusing Tablighi Jamaat over COVID-19 spread

A 29-year-old man from Prayagraj was on Sunday (April 5) shot dead outside his residence for allegedly blaming members of the community and the Tablighi Jamaat for spreading the COVID-19 infection in the country, the police said.

The police noted that the victim was standing outside his house in Kareli when unidentified assailants opened fire at him and two people have also been detained in this connection.

Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath directed the Uttar Pradesh state authorities to charge the accused under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) and announced ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh to the family of the deceased, a report in the Indian Express read.

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“The victim was standing outside his house when the assailant opened fire on him. A bullet hit his head and he died on the spot,” Prayagraj circle officer Amit Srivastava told Indian Express.

He said that locals claimed the victim had allegedly blamed people from a particular community and also Tablighi Jamaat for spreading the highly contagious COVID-19 in the country and communicated the same to a small group of people.

According to locals, a person from the group left and returned back later with others.

“The two detained persons are being questioned and the body has been sent for autopsy,” said Amit Srivastava.