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Omicron: K’taka awaits report of 5 samples

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The Karnataka health department is awaiting the genome sequencing test results of five persons who came in contact with a doctor infected with the Omicron Covid variant.

The results are expected to arrive on Monday.

The state is also seeking the approval of the Centre to conduct genome sequencing tests in four additional labs for quicker results.

The doctor had tested positive for Covid-19 on November 22 and his sample was sent for genome sequencing two days later.

On December 2, the Central government announced that the doctor was infected with the Omicron variant, sending the Karnataka health department into jitters.

The authorities have tracked the doctor’s 13 primary and 205 secondary contacts and tested them.

His wife, daughter, two of his colleagues and another have tested positive for Covid-19 and their swab samples have been sent for genome sequencing.

All of them are being treated at a designated hospital.

The health condition of these persons, including the doctor, is normal and all of them have recovered from symptoms and are doing well.

The state government has brought in strict measures after detection of the country’s first two Omicron cases in Bengaluru.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has already issued a circular following the government’s instructions regarding a mandatory two-dose vaccination for entry into shopping complexes, malls, cinema halls, theatres.

The management of commercial establishments are being given the task of screening customers before entry. BBMP marshals and health officials have been directed to conduct checks without intimation.

The BBMP has also warned of slapping cases under the Disaster Management Act 2005 and other legal provisions, if there were any violations.

On the other hand, the government has decided to go aggressively on vaccination front in the state. As per the latest figures of the Union government’s Co-Win Dashboard till 7 a.m. on Monday, more than 7.33 crore vaccines have been administered.

A minimum of 30 samples are sent everyday for genome sequencing to keep a tab on the spread of the Omicron variant in the state.

Presently, only two labs in the state — National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) and NIMHANS — have approval from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) to conduct genome sequencing.

Considering the inflow of international travellers and samples collected from the community, the burden will be more on conducting Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS).

The state government has already procured equipment for four labs at Hassan, Belagavi, Mysuru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College in Bengaluru and is awaiting the approval of INSACOG.

The equipment has already been installed and staff is also trained. Apart from this, the state is also seeking the Centre’s nod to recognise test results of private hospital labs where the facility is available.

As per the present rule, the state cannot send samples for WGS to private labs.

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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