Aslam Baba — a self-styled godman in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam who reportedly “kissed” the hands of devotees to “cure” them of Covid-19– died on June 4, 2020 from its infection.
Reports suggest that he not only ended his own life but also allegedly infected some others.
Aslam Baba had tested positive for the novel coronavirus on 3 June, and died a day later, reported The Print.
Ratlam Superintendent of Police (SP) Gaurav Tiwari reportedly said over 50 people were contact-traced after the godman’s death and put under quarantine.
Nearly 150 people in the Nayapura region, where Aslam Baba resided, were also quarantined. They are currently being screened and the area has been declared a containment zone, the report pointed out.
Tiwari also reportedly confirmed that several people had contracted the virus after being in contact with Aslam Baba. However, he said testing was still underway and authorities were yet to ascertain how many had been infected.
After Aslam Baba tested positive, authorities planned to sue him for violating lockdown rules since many people gathered around his area when he was performing “black magic”, and for spreading fear and rumours about the coronavirus, the police officer was quoted as saying.