Fiji nationals who allegedly breached India’s lockdown guidelines cleared to return home

The 13 Fijians who were charged for violating the Indian government’s lockdown guidelines in March have been cleared and will be returning to Fiji soon.

This has been confirmed by the Acting Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Yogesh Karan who says their passports have been returned to them and the High Commission is now working on an available flight to bring them back home.

These Fiji nationals were among 91 foreigners from 21 countries that were granted bail earlier this month by a court in New Delhi in India for attending a congregation at the Tablighi Jamaat Markaz at Nizamuddin.

The Hindustan Times reported that the 91 foreigners were also charged for violating visa conditions and indulging in missionary activities illegally.

Thousands of people participated in the religious congregation in Nizamuddin in March and later, many of the attendees travelled to various parts of the country. It has become one of India’s largest COVID-19 clusters.