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Centre clarifies on 3rd wave possibility after Omicron detection

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Omicron cases are increasingly being reported from countries outside of South Africa. India has also reported two cases of Omicron Covid variant and is likely to spread to more countries.

“Given the fast pace of vaccination in India and high exposure to Delta variant as evidenced by high seropositivity, the severity of the disease is anticipated to be low. However, scientific evidence is still evolving,” said the Health Ministry on Friday. It added further that the scale and magnitude of rise in cases and most importantly the severity of disease that will be caused is still not clear.

On the question of existing vaccine efficacy against this variant, the health ministry has said that there is no evidence to suggest that existing vaccines do not work on Omicron, some of the mutations reported on Spike gene may decrease the efficacy of existing vaccines. However, vaccine protection is also by antibodies as well as by cellular immunity, which is expected to be relatively better preserved.

“Hence vaccines are expected to still offer protection against severe disease, and vaccination with the available vaccines is crucial. If eligible, but not vaccinated, one should get vaccinated,” it added.

The response measures for all variants of concern, including Omicron, is the same as that for SARs CoV2. The ministry has said that the precautions and steps to be taken remain the same as before. “It is essential to mask yourself properly, take both doses of vaccines (if not yet vaccinated), maintain social distancing and maintain good ventilation to the maximum possible”, said the ministry in a statement.

The government is monitoring the situation closely and is issuing suitable guidelines, said the ministry, adding that the scientific and medical community is geared up for developing and deploying diagnostics, carrying out genomic surveillance, generating evidence about viral and epidemiologic characteristics, and development of therapeutics.

Crime

Thane Rural Police Arrest Titwala Man For Brutal Murder Of Missing Ola Driver

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Mumbai: Thane Rural Police have arrested Adarsh Chandrakant Bhalerao from Titwala for the murder of missing Ola driver Nasir Ahmed.

Ahmed’s body was found in the jurisdiction of Otur Police Station near Malshej Ghat, while his blood-stained car was discovered in a forest near Govili village on the Kalyan–Murbad road.

Police traced the accused through CCTV footage and technical analysis, and the motive behind the murder is still under investigation.

The dead body with multiple wounds of a Ola driver Nasir Ahmed was found 90 km from Titwala in one of the forest, he was missing since last four days, his car was found in a pool of blood at abondoned place near Govali village, Kalyan Taluka police (Thane Rural) doing the further probe.

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Crime

Mumbai: Five Arrested For Assaulting BMC Officials During Anti-Hawker Drive In Kandivali

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Mumbai: Five persons were arrested on Saturday, March, for allegedly assaulting civic officials during an anti-hawker drive conducted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in Kandivali a day earlier.

The incident took place on Friday night in the Lokhandwala Circle area when a team of BMC officials was carrying out a drive to remove illegal street vendors from the locality.

During the operation, a group of individuals allegedly confronted the civic staff and chased them, leading to an altercation. The driver of an earthmover machine deployed for the anti-encroachment drive was also reportedly assaulted during the incident.

Following the incident, police launched an investigation and arrested five individuals in connection with the alleged assault.

The incident comes barely a week after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) conducted a major anti-encroachment drive in Thakur Complex under Ward 24.

During the operation, civic officials, accompanied by police personnel and local representatives, removed unauthorised stalls and cleared footpaths that residents said had become heavily congested over time.

The action was part of a wider civic initiative across Mumbai aimed at reclaiming pedestrian spaces and addressing long-standing complaints of blocked pavements and traffic bottlenecks.

Local corporator Swati Sanjay Jaiswal, who was present during the drive, said the administration would take a strict stand against illegal encroachments in the locality. “Illegal hawking or encroachment will not be allowed in this area,” she said.

Jaiswal also alleged that an organised hawker network operates in certain parts of the suburb and stated that the ongoing drives are intended to curb such activities. At the same time, she clarified that the action is not directed at all vendors.

Highlighting concerns around livelihood, she noted that several government welfare schemes are available for eligible individuals. “They can apply under different government schemes, but occupying footpaths illegally will not be permitted,” she added.

Residents, meanwhile, welcomed the civic action and expressed hope that the cleared pavements would remain accessible to pedestrians in the future.

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Crime

Mumbai Police Crack Down On Topaz Bar: Manager Booked For Licence Violations In Late-Night Raid

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Mumbai: The Crime Branch Unit 3 of the Mumbai Police conducted a late-night raid at an orchestra bar in South Mumbai and registered an FIR against the establishment’s manager for allegedly violating licence conditions.

According to officials, the action was taken at Topaz Bar and Restaurant located under the jurisdiction of DB Marg Police Station. An FIR  has been registered under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

Police said that at around 11:55 pm on March 6, a team from Crime Branch Unit 3 carried out a raid at the bar in the presence of panch witnesses. During the inspection, officers found that the bar manager had allegedly violated the terms and conditions of the licence issued by the government for operating the bar establishment.

Following the raid, the manager, identified as Vipin Kumar Santosh Singh (43), a resident of Rashmi Star City, Naigaon East, was booked. He was later handed over to the DB Marg Police Station for further legal action.

The raid was conducted by a team comprising Senior Police Inspector Yerekar, API Deshmukh, PSI Trupti Patil, Head Constable Palande, Constable Patil, and driver Dhayigade. Further investigation is underway.

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