Thursday, July 2, 2020

I told the truth according to my conscience, says woman cop


I told the truth according to my conscience, says woman cop

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Tuticorin:02.07.2020

The role played by Sathankulam head constable Revathy in exposing the torture unleashed by her fellow police personnel on P Jeyaraj and his son J Beniks has now turned crucial to the progress of the case. Her testimony before the judicial magistrate turned out to be the first person account of the torture the victims suffered for two days before their death.

“I spoke according to my conscience. I am ready to say it anywhere,” she told reporters. Hailed as a hero by the public when her male colleagues were party to the crime or had decided to stay silent, the cop, who had put in 15 years of service in the police department, has now sought protection for her and her family. She said she was aware that she would be questioned in connection with the issue when the victims died.

“I hope those involved get their due,” she said adding that she has sought protection for herself, her husband and two daughters from the Madras high court and Tuticorin district collector Sandeep Nanduri. “They have assured protection,” she said.

Recalling the incident, her husband Santhosh told reporters that on June 19 his wife started from home at 7pm. On reaching the station at 8.30pm, she told him, “I am yet to enter the station but they are beating someone.” Around 10pm, he called her again when she said the cops were beating a man and his son. “She said they look pitiable. The father (Jeyaraj) asked for water and she gave,” he said.

He recalled that around midnight he spoke to her again when she said they were beaten again and were bleeding. After the duo died, she was worried as she was on station duty that night and was sure to be questioned. The family stood by her side and asked her to tell the truth. “We are ready to speak the truth anywhere. The worst case is they could dismiss her from service. I asked her not to worry and to boldly tell the truth. But we need protection,” he said.

Responding to the concerns raised by the cop and her family, district collector Sandeep Nanduri told TOI that the SP has provided protection to the head constable and her husband. “One constable each has been provided for her and her husband for protection. She has also been granted one month leave (she had requested) with full pay,” he added.

I spoke according to my conscience. I am ready to say it anywhere. I hope those involved get their due. I have sought protection for myself, my husband and my two daughters from the Madras high court and Tuticorin collector

Revathy | WHISTLEBLOWER HEAD CONSTABLE

Bar council of TN demands reopening of regular courts


Bar council of TN demands reopening of regular courts

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.07.2020

The Bar council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry has requested the Madras high court to reopen regular court hearings across the state at least from July 6.

The statutory body also suggested functioning of courts in two shifts – physical hearing during morning sessions and video conferencing proceedings in afternoons — to prevent crowding. A major chunk of lawyers has lost their livelihood due to restrictive virtual court hearings, which have become the norm for the past three months, the council said.

The council has made the request responding to the call made by the high court seeking suggestions from the stakeholders regarding the mode of functioning of the courts. “We have already narrated the difficulties faced by the advocates while hearing the cases through video conference through a letter dated June 2. We have also requested the high court to resume the physical court hearings,” a six-page communication issued by the council said.

Cannot extend bill payment time any further: Tangedco


Cannot extend bill payment time any further: Tangedco

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.07.2020

Tangedco on Wednesday informed the Madras high court that it cannot grant any further extension of time for domestic consumers to pay electricity charges, as the corporation is already incurring huge costs towards maintenance and salary expenses. For low tension consumers in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts, time for payment of bills was first granted upto July 6, and it was later extended to July 15 due to the extension of complete lockdown from June 19 to June 30, it said.

Additional advocate-general PH Arvind Pandian made these submissions in response to a PIL moved by C Rajashekaran seeking deferment of consumption charges till July 31.

“Already 75% of the consumers have paid the charges and for the districts, where the intensive lockdown is announced. Now the lockdown is also lifted except in four districts and wherever the lockdown is extended the board itself is extending the time for payment of consumption charges. But the same relief cannot be provided to other areas,” Pandian said.

Time for payment of such charges has been extended from time to time based on extension of lockdown by the central and the state government. In respect of Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram & Thiruvallur districts extension of time has been granted till July 7. Now, it has been further extended till July 15 considering the intensive lockdown announced till June 30, he added.

Pointing out that a majority of the domestic and lowtension consumers have already paid the bills, Tangedco said, for consumption in March payable in April out of 1.35 crore low tension consumers only 8.45 lakh (6.25%) are yet to make payment. Similarly, for consumption in April payable in May only 12.94 lakh (9.5%0 are yet to make payment and for consumption in May payable in June only 18.44 lakh (13.62%) are yet to make payment, Tangedco added.

For low tension consumers in Chennai, Chengalpet, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts, time for payment of bills was first granted upto July 6, and it was later extended to July 15 due to the extension of complete lockdown from June 19 to 30

Closure order for biryani outlet upheld


Closure order for biryani outlet upheld

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:02.07.2020

The National Green Tribunal refused to set aside the closure notice issued to Salem RR Biryani’s Tambaram branch During a routine inspection, officials from Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) found that the unit was operating from a residential area without TNPCB consent.

At the hotel kitchen, workers were making briyani using firewood as fuel and had installed a firewood boiler with steam cooking facility. Some LPG cylinders were kept in an open yard and waste water was discharged into the public drain without any treatment. Therefore a show-cause notice was issued to the hotel last December seeking a formal explanation. Since the reply was unsatisfactory, another round of inspection was conducted and officials found that the unit continued to violate rules. So in February a closure order was issued against the unit Electricity connection was also disconnected.

Following this, the hotel sought three months’ time from the government to shift their kitchen to Guindy Industrial Estate and restore electricity connection till then.

‘TN Class XII results will be delayed by a week’


‘TN Class XII results will be delayed by a week’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

02.07.2020

Tamil Nadu school education minister K A Sengottaiyan on Tuesday said there would be a one week delay in releasing Class XII results. “We will release the results with the CM’s consent in the second week of July,” he told TOI.

He was present as a chief guest to inaugurate roads and various drinking water projects worth 3.38 crore in Nambiyur near Gobichettipalayam on Wednesday.

The minister had earlier announced that the Class XII results would be released in the first week of July.

Nearly 35,000 Class XII students still have to write their pending exams. “Out of 35,000 students, 718 have expressed their willingness for the same,” he said.

“Conducting exams and bringing these 718 students to the exam halls will be a challenging task for us due to the extension of the lockdown,” he said.

The minister said schools would be reopened only after the Covid-19 outbreak is over in the state.

UK to process visas from July 6


UK to process visas from July 6

Ireland, Too, Will Start Processing Visas Of City Applicants On Same Date

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 2.7.2020

With international flights set to start, the UK and Ireland will start processing visas from applicants in Chennai from July 6. While people can apply for all category visas to the UK, only student visas and long stay visas will be issued to Ireland.

City residents are also allowed to apply for visas for Belarus, Denmark, Norway, Portugal and the Dominican Republic by submitting applications and documents in Delhi.

As lockdown restrictions continue and international air travel opens up gradually, countries have started to allow visa processing in India.

Pranav Sinha, regional head (west & south India, Maldives, Sri Lanka) for VFS Global said in an online interaction on Tuesday that there would not be much of a change in visa application process because of the pandemic though applicants may have to take precautions and maintain social distancing inside VFS centres.

Though VFS will be using the same strength of staff at its centres, the number of appointments given per day may depend on the numbers allotted by the country to which visa is applied.

“The number of appointments may go up gradually. If people do not want to come to the centres to give biometrics, we have a system to send staff to the doorstep of applicants,” he added.

However, there is no clarity yet on whether foreign governments will ask applicants to submit health documents especially for those who had recovered from Covid-19.

He also said: “Governments may introduce health screening measures going forward, so applicants should make sure to go through updated document checklist for the country in case any medical and vaccination histories are required as part of visa application.”

Basheer Ahmed of Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) said: “This will help people to renew visa and also apply for visa for travel at a later date. People can also apply for visa for travel in August or September by showing a booking certificate for a later date so that they will be able to travel soon after resumption of flights.”

VISA APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES

UK, Ireland: July 6 (Chennai)

Belarus (all categories): July 1 (Delhi)

Denmark (Residence permit, employment, dependent): June 29 (Delhi)

Norway (residence permit): June 29 (Delhi)

Portugal (E6 for holders of expired Portugues residence

card, D6 for holders of expired family reunion, D6 visa): June 29 (Delhi)

Dominican Republic (work/resident/busines visa) : June 29 (Delhi)

Sathankulam deaths: Murder case on four policemen, SI arrested


Sathankulam deaths: Murder case on four policemen, SI arrested

Ananth.MK@timesgroup.com

Tuticorin: 2.7.2020

The CB-CID wing of the Tamil Nadu police which has taken over the investigation of the alleged custodial torture and death of a father-son duo, P Jeyaraj and J Beniks, booked two suspended SIs and two constables of Sathankulam police station under Section 302 of the IPC for murders and arrested one of the SIs, Raghu Ganesh, on Wednesday. He was remanded in judicial custody late in the evening.

CB-CID IG K Shankar, who is supervising the investigation, told TOI that 12 special teams had been formed under the leadership of CB-CID SP C Vijayakumar to investigate the case and carryout searches and arrest the remaining three accused — SI Balakrishnan and constables Murugan and Muthuraj. “As of now, we have registered murder cases against four people. Whether more people are involved or not would be known only with the progress of the investigation,” Shankar said. Kovilpatti police had initially registered the cases as suspicious deaths.

Though the state government had transferred the case to CBI, it was subsequently handed over to CB-CID on Tuesday as an interim measure following the intervention of the Madurai bench of the Madras high court to avoid delay in proceeding with the investigation and prevent tampering of evidence by Sathankulam local police. The conduct of the policemen was intimidating and non-cooperative when Kovilpatti judicial magistrate M S Bharathidasan carried out an inquest on Sunday.


CB-CID team visits Beniks’ mobile shop

Relatives and friends of victims reacted to the arrest saying their fight for justice was yielding results.

“God has given us justice. We see judicial magistrate M S Bharathidhasan, the Madurai bench of the Madras high court which took suo motu cognisance of the case and everyone who supported us as messengers of God. All of them came forward to help us,” said P Pon Sekar, of one of the sons-in-law of Jeyaraj.

The CB-CID team visited Beniks’ mobile shop and made inquiries about the manner in which the two were arrested by Sathankulam police on June 19. The team then split into two. While one team visited the house of the deceased, the other team conducted inquiry at Sathankulam police station. Another team led by DSP Saravanakumar visited Kovilpatti sub jail, where the duo was lodged before their death. In the evening, Beniks’ friends appeared before the CB CID team and handed over pictures and video footages of the arrest. They also gave their statements as eye witnesses.

Meanwhile, the relatives of the victims handed over vital evidences pertaining to the torture of Jeyaraj and Beniks to judicial magistrate M S Bharathidhasan on Tuesday evening. The evidences include blood stained shirt of Beniks, blood-stained car seat cover and bedsheet spread on the seat of the car in which Jeyaraj and Beniks were taken to Kovilpatti sub jail from Sathankulam on June 20 afternoon.

The magistrate and forensic experts observed the car and took the evidences with them. The magistrate then visited Sathankulam hospital and checked the CCTV footage and conducted inquiry with the staff there.

On Wednesday government doctor Vennila who had treated the father and son at Sathankulam hospital on June 20 for close to three hours, before they were produced in front of Sathankulam magistrate for remand, appeared before the magistrate conducting inquest at Tiruchendur. She explained the condition in which the victims were brought to the hospital and the treatment provided to them.

On Wednesday, government doctor Vennila who had treated the father and son at Sathankulam hospital on June 20 appeared before the magistrate conducting inquest at Tiruchendur

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

47 goats quarantined after goatherd tests Covid +ve in Karnataka village


47 goats quarantined after goatherd tests Covid +ve in Karnataka village

Kiran.Parashar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru: 01.07.2020

Forty-seven goats were quarantined on Tuesday after a goatherd tested positive for Covid-19 in Godekere village in Tumakuru district, about 127km from Bengaluru.

Sources said the village in Chikkanayakanahalli taluk has around 300 houses and a population of 1,000. Two villagers, including the goatherd, tested positive recently. After this, four goats of the goat-rearer died, causing alarm in the village.

District health and veterinary officials visited the village on Tuesday and collected swab samples of the goats before putting the livestock in quarantine outside the village. The team faced huge resistance from the villagers, who suspected they had arrived to cull the goats. The officials convinced them that there is risk of the livestock getting infected by coronavirus and have to be tested.

P Manivannan, secretary of the animal husbandry department, said they will look into the matter and postmortem will be conducted on the dead goats.

People see god in docs today: Tope writes a heartfelt letter


People see god in docs today: Tope writes a heartfelt letter

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai:01.07.2020

Netas do have a heart, after all. State health minister Rajesh Tope’s soft side has come to the fore in a heartfelt open letter he has written on National Doctors’ Day, addressing medicos who have been the biggest army in the fight against Covid.

Thanking them for their response to battle the pandemic, Tope said he is “forever grateful to frontline workers who risk their lives to save lives of their patients”.

Giving credit for the high recovery rate of Covid patients in the state to hard work done by doctors, Topes letter goes on to say: “At a time when all religious places are shut, people can see God in a doctor today.” he writes.

The minister has added in his note, “At a time when people are staying away from friends and neighbours, fearing that they too might catch the infection, the doctors are not only treating patients, but also giving them the courage to fight this battle,” said Tope.

In an expression of empthy with the medical warriors, Tope has said that one can only imagine the state of mind of doctors who leave their family to save lives. Doctors who step out of their homes, running the risk of infection, often tell relatives of patients that they will take care of the patient and they (the relatives) should stay at home.

The letter, packed with emotion and humane feeling concludes: “I salute you and your dedication towards your profession.”

Former HoD of neurosurgery at KGMU, PGI dies


Former HoD of neurosurgery at KGMU, PGI dies

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Lucknow:01.07.2020

Renowned neurosurgeon and former head of neurosurgery both at KGMU and SGPGI, Dr Devendra K Chhabra died in Lucknow on Tuesday morning after a long illness. He is survived by his wife Dr Apjit Kaur and son Dr Sarab Chhabra.

A master teacher and a disciplinarian who was warm and comforting to his patients, Dr Chhabra had invented a low-cost neurological equipment, the ‘Chhabra Shunt’, which continues to be an affordable option for the masses. He had also established the neurosurgery unit at Vivekanand Institute of Medical Sciences after retirement.

Students, colleagues and the entire medical community remembered Dr Chhabra on Tuesday as a man of mild mannerisms, eye for perfection, immense discipline and a fine taste for all things classic.

“He was our guru. He studied both MBBS and MS at KGMU and was the first to join neurosurgery training there, ” said current HoD Dr BK OJha.

Visa processing for UK will resume July 6


Visa processing for UK will resume July 6

01.07.2020 TOI 

Visa processing for the UK will resume in India on July 6 in a phased manner. UK visa application centres in Delhi, south Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata and Pune will open first. VFS is expected to announce on Wednesday when visa processing for some other countries will resume in India.

Thank you Doctors

Sudden notice to vacate hostel leaves BU students frazzled


FOR COVID CARE

Sudden notice to vacate hostel leaves BU students frazzled

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:01.07.2020

Chaos prevailed at Bangalore University’s hostel for SC/ST girls on Jnanabharathi campus. Reason: Students were asked to return and vacate their rooms at short notice. The government is taking over the building to convert it into a dedicated Covid hospital for patients with symptoms.

The students were contacted on Monday afternoon and asked to vacate their rooms by Tuesday. Those from districts like Belagavi and Raichur had to travel overnight, coughing up whopping sums on travel to reach the campus. The hostel has over 350 students, many of whom had returned home before and after the lockdown.

“My father and I started from Chitradurga at 10pm on Monday night. We packed tiffin, snacks, water and other essentials to ensure we didn’t have to stop on the way. We used public toilets in the morning and reached the campus by 6am. We paid Rs 8,000 for the cab. The journey has been tiresome,” said Roopashree BK, a student from Chitradurga.

For Anusha A, a student from Chintamani, the journey with her three friends cost her Rs 5,000. “We were among the luckier ones. There are others from far away districts, for whom the journey must have been even more expensive,” she said.

Even those within the city were hassled by the last-minute alert. “Getting a bus and taking all the luggage on it was very difficult. I waited for nearly an hour for a bus. There’s no common social media group for the students. So, some of them are still not aware of this development,” said Sangeetha HM, another student.

“The hostel also has students from other states and countries. They will either lose their personnel belongings or won’t be able to use them again once college restarts. Further, students from rural areas may not be taken back by their villages once they visit Bengaluru, because of the growing virus scare,” said another student, who alleged the officials were rude when they came to vacate the room.

According to a notification from BBMP, the BU SC/ ST hostel will be turned into a 400-bed hospital and the North East students hostel into a 350-bed facility.

BU officials have raised concerns over keeping the varsity offices open while the Covid facility functions from its campus.


TOLD TO PACK UP: A student leaves with her belongings from BU’s Jnanabharathi campus

The government told us to hand over hostels for a dedicated Covid hospital as soon as possible. While the hostel for NE students has been handed over already as it was yet to be occupied, BBMP was also keen on the BDA hostel for SC/ST students. The other hostels weren’t in good condition. We have students from other districts and states who have been affected by this sudden notice. We are requesting the government to give us some time to vacate the rooms. For students who cannot reach, we have to find a place to keep their belongings.

KR Venugopal

BANGALORE UNIVERSITY VC

Govt contemplates hiring 1.5k doctors, 6k nurses


Govt contemplates hiring 1.5k doctors, 6k nurses

Chethan.Kumar@timesgroup.com

01.07.2020

Bengaluru: The government may hire 1,500 doctors and 6,000 nurses, besides reserving one in four beds in every hospital that has a minimum 200 beds to treat the infected.

These were moot points at a meeting between experts and chief minister BS Yediyurappa last week. While the government has already decided to implement some of the recommendations, the CM has sought a formal report from Dr Devi Shetty and Dr CN Manjunath, both of whom participated in the meeting, before taking a decision on hiring doctors and nurses.

Shetty had suggested the government “hire/recruit 50 doctors and 200 nurses for each district hospital,” and to identify doctors with a minimum two years of experience in handling ICU facilities.

“...To use the services of MBBS doctors with fellowship in critical care medicine as a long-term strategy and to enforce a policy to reserve a minimum of 50 beds in hospitals with 200 beds or more,” Shetty said, according to the minutes of Friday’s meeting.

P Ravikumar, principal secretary, chief minister’s office (CMO), told TOI: “These are extraordinary times and the government will act on the suggestions immediately once the report comes in.”

Further, more than one of the four experts present at the meeting recommended that the government set up tele-ICUs at each district.

“Tele-ICU is the best model adopted in the state and action will be taken to ensure tele-ICU facilities in all the district hospitals, including Bengaluru,” chief secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar said.

Dr Giridhara Babu, professor, Indian Institute of Public Health, aside from recommending tele-ICUs, also said the government must keep at least 5,000 beds ready in the next two months, while Dr MK Sudharshan suggested that the government supply immunity boosters to patients and engage health workers or volunteers at the ward and booth level to tackle the pandemic in Bengaluru.


While Karnataka has more than 1.2 lakh registered doctors, sources say not more than 5% are with the government. As per an earlier analysis by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI), of the more than 1 lakh doctors in Karnataka in 2018, only 5,047 or 4.8% were with the government.

In huge boost, private medical colleges in B’luru to allot 50% beds for Covid patients


In huge boost, private medical colleges in B’luru to allot 50% beds for Covid patients

CATCHING UP 11 Institutions Part With 4,500 Beds, 2,200 Of Which Have Already Been Notified

State Faces Huge Backlog In Testing

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

01.07.2020

Bengaluru: In huge relief for the government which has been grappling with a shortage of facilities, private medical colleges in Bengaluru have agreed to part with about 4,500 beds to treat Covid-19 patients.

Chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday held a meeting – the second in as many days – with representatives of private hospitals and medical colleges at Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday and later said of the 4.500 beds, 2,200 have already been notified.

“There are 2,000 beds available in government medical colleges and those offered by medical colleges will be added to the tally soon,” Yediyurappa said. He said four of the colleges have set up Covid testing labs and new testing facilities will be set up in the other colleges too.

On Monday, the government agreed to a proposal to share 50% of beds in private hospitals on an equal basis to treat virus-infected patients and also to extend insurance cover and police security to private doctors and paramedical staff involved in helping coronavirus patients recover.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, medical education minister K Sudhakar said Bengaluru has the most number of private medical colleges “in the country”. Of the 14 colleges, he said 11 are private and three are government-run.

About 1,000 beds have been kept aside for Covid patients at three government colleges, while the 11 private colleges have a total about 10,000 beds between them. Following Tuesday’s meeting, managements of these colleges agreed to make 50% -- about 4,500 beds including ICUs -- available for Covid patients. They have also agreed to make available ventilators, experts, doctors and paramedical staff, Sudhakar said.

Noting that all 4,500 beds may not be available immediately as non-Covid patients may be undergoing treatment, Sudhakar said the managements have promised to ensure all beds are available within a fortnight.

“The central allotment committee that we have constituted in coordination with nodal officers appointed for each medical college will allot beds in a scientific manner,” he said. Rates fixed for private hospitals will be applicable for private medical colleges also.

Pointing out that stipend has been increased to 45% for government medical college students since the pandemic struck, Sudhakar said private medical colleges would also have to pay stipend. He said the department would ensure payment and will take action if managements fail to pay up.

SELF SERVICE: Shop owners in Basavangudi, Bengaluru, decided to voluntarily down shutters as a precautionary measure on Tuesday

No new relaxations; schools and colleges in K’taka shut till July 31


No new relaxations; schools and colleges in K’taka shut till July 31

Anil.Gejji@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:  01.07.2020

In line with the central government’s Unlock 2.0 guidelines, the Karnataka government on Tuesday declared schools and colleges, cinema halls, multiplexes, swimming pools, Metro services, marriage halls and gyms across the state will continue to remain closed till July 31.

However, the government announced no further relaxations in the second edition of unlock measures.

The order issued by chief secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar said Sunday curfew will be in force till August 2 and the 8pm-5am curfew every night till July 31. However, essential services and those arriving from other cities have been exempt from these restrictions.

Though the guidelines issued by the ministry of home affairs late Monday night made a few allowances, the Karnataka government decided to continue with the relaxations offered under Unlock 1.0 since the number of cases is on an upward trajectory in the past two weeks.

In containment zones, the state government will enforce complete lockdown by allowing only essential services.


Workers spray disinfectant outside the high court building in Bengaluru on Tuesday | P 2

No curbs on movement of people within, outside state

The government has given local authorities a free hand to identify buffer zones outside the containment zones. However, this will not apply to essential activities, including operation of industrial units in multiple shifts, movement of persons and goods on national, state and major district highways.

As per the state guidelines, online/distance learning will be permitted. Central and state training institutions will be allowed to function from July 15 with the standard operating procedure.

There will be no curbs on movement of people and goods within and between the states. Restrictions on small gatherings — not more than 50 attendees at marriages and 20 for funerals — will continue. Large public gatherings and congregations are prohibited.

Those who are not wearing a mask will be asked to pay a fine of Rs 200 in municipal areas and Rs 100 in rest of the state. Spitting in public and consuming of alcohol, paan, gutka and tobacco in public places will continue to be prohibited.

FULL COVERAGE: P 2, 4 & 5

TikTok stars migrate to other platforms


TikTok stars migrate to other platforms

John Sarkar & Pankaj Doval TNN

New Delhi: 01.07.2020

Within minutes of the order blocking TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps, SaltNPepper, a wannabe actor in his early forties, reached out to his near-one million followers, advising them to follow him on his new personal website as well as Instagram and YouTube channel. He was not alone, with many Indian TikTok influencers, whose accounts were inaccessible on Tuesday, doing the same.

Some even went to the extent of praising the government’s action and exhorted their followers to back them up by following them on other social-media channels.

The most popular social media channels due to the ban of TikTok include Instagram and YouTube, which hitherto had been losing the race in bagging new subscribers to the Chinese app.

However, many of the Tik-Tok influencers are worried that their popularity may not be matched so aggressively on the other American platforms which have “more sophisticated users and followers”.

TikTok and ByteDance’s other app, Helo, had a bigger appeal in the hinterland and rural and semi-urban India where they are widely followed. Instagram and You-Tube are more of a metro phenomenon, and are popular with upmarket advertisers.

Surbhi Sikri, a 22-year-old Tiktoker known as Revolver-Rani on the Chinese platform, had over 6 million followers. “My parents are a bit worried as I had taken this as my career. There are some financial problems in my family and this will impact my earnings by at least 50%,” he told TOI.

On an average, a reasonably successful TikTok influencer makes around Rs 2 lakh a month.


Apps must adhere to country’s data sovereignty: kant

New Delhi:

All apps released in the country must adhere to India’s data integrity, privacy, sovereignty and transparency, a top policymaker said on Tuesday, a day after the Centre banned 59 Chinese apps. “They must be transparent in origin & final destination of data. India has to be a data sovereign country. This is critical. Apps against whom action has been taken are lifestyle apps,” NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said on Twitter. AGENCIES

Father, son beaten all night: TN woman cop


Father, son beaten all night: TN woman cop

Enough Proof To Try Police For Murder: HC

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:01.07.2020

In a damning indictment of Sathankulam police, a woman head constable attached to the station has told the magistrate conducting the inquiry that P Jeyaraj and his son J Benniks were indeed assaulted by police personnel with lathis for a whole night, after their arrest on June 19 even as the Madras HC on Tuesday said there is sufficient material to invoke murder charges against the entire Sathankulam police team.

Lathi blows rained on the two till dawn, due to which there were blood stains on lathis and a table at the station, she told the magistrate. Apprehending destruction of evidence, she requested the inquiring magistrate to take possession of the material. She signed her statement only after the magistrate assured her of safety.

The woman head constable’s statement had to be recorded under most intimidating circumstances at Sathankulam station on June 28, magistrate Bharathidasan said, adding that despite his instruction to wait outside, police personnel caused hindrance.

Citing ante-mortem injuries found on the bodies of J Benniks and his father P Jeyaraj, the preliminary post-mortem report, the Kovilpatti judicial magistrate’s report and the damning deposition of the woman head constable, a division bench of Justice P N Prakash and Justice B Pugalendhi said they would be prima facie be sufficient to alter the case under Section 302 IPC against the Sathankulam policemen.

The judges said that from the report of the judicial magistrate, they are able to discern that the Sathankulam police are taking advantage of the fact that the investigation of the case is in limbo and are attempting to cause disappearance of evidence. “In fact, they were emboldened enough to even intimidate the judicial officer to put spokes in the wheel of his enquiry,” said the judges, adding that CB-CID DSP Anil Kumar had been put in charge of investigation.

Directing Anil Kumar to immediately take charge and proceed with investigation without waiting for a formal order from the DGP, the judges said it is open to the state government to revisit the idea of entrusting the matter to the CBI, if they are satisfied that Anil Kumar is proceeding on the right lines. The case was adjourned to July 2.

“We fervently hope that Anil Kumar will have before his mind’s eye, the river of tears flowing from the eyes of the family of the two decease d and take up the investigation of the case in all earnestness for wiping their tears,” they said.


Thoothukudi SP Arun Balagopalan (2nd L), additional SP D Kumar (L), DSP C Prathapan (R) and constable Maharajan (4th L, not in uniform) after appearing before the Madurai bench of Madras high court in the Sathankulam custodial deaths case on Tuesday

Violent behaviour: 80 cops taken off duty

As many as 80 police personnel in Trichy have been removed from duty following reports of their violent and aggressive behaviour with the public. In a Facebook post late on Monday night, the DIG V Balakrishnan stated, “We are removing 80 police personnel in Trichy police range who need behavioural correction to improve their interpersonal skills. They are taken off duties involving direct public contact as their track record in that aspect is found wanting. They will be gradually reintegrated into regular duties only after completing a specially designed course with cognitive behavioural therapy component to improve the way they deal with the public.” The DIG had kicked off the process a few months ago after 55-year-old man in Trichy died of heart attack during inquiry by a special team in connection with a theft case at Samayapuram in December 2019. TNN

Govt reappoints Pandya as Gujarat University VC


Govt reappoints Pandya as Gujarat University VC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad: 01.07.2020

The state government today announced its decision to reappoint Himanshu Pandya, a professor at department of biochemistry and forensic science, as the vicechancellor of Gujarat University.

Pandya, who will be serving his second term at the top GU post, seem to have earlier fallen out with the BJP-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) after the GU students’ union election, held after a gap of four years in March. ABVP faced a crushing defeat at the hands of Congress’ student political wing National Students’ Union of India (NSUI). Many of them had alleged that Pandya supported NSUI to win the elections. Pandya’s name was among the candidates shortlisted by the search committee headed by Gujarat governor Acharya Devvrat. His first term ended on May 16 and the charge was temporarily given to Jagdish Bhavsar, pro VC of GU. The committee, formed in February to shortlist names for the post of VC, said it could not complete the task due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown situation.

What seems to have swung things into Pandya’s favour is the recent announcement of the all National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Ranking 2020 by the Centre where Gujarat University made a surprise entry at number 60 in the list of higher education institutes in the overall category.

Last year, when the varsity did not even figure in the top 100 names in overall rankings in the NIRF 2019 list, Pandya, the then VC, had started various initiatives to raise its quality and standards.

“I want to take GU to newer heights. A research park that is currently being built will have far reaching benefits for the students, faculty members as well as the society,” said Pandya. He will take charge of the position in the next couple of days.

The three-member search committee included Kamlesh Joshipura, former vice-chancellor of Saurashtra University whose nomination was chosen by GU. Parimal Vyas has been chosen by the Joint Board of Vice-Chancellors (JBVC) is the third member of the committee.

57 docs dead... but we shall overcome!


57 docs dead... but we shall overcome!

01.07.2020

Following the Covid-19 outbreak, 2020 will go down in history as a year which changed mankind and civilisation. The modern way of life as we have known it will cease to exist. The instinct for survival has stood challenged once again.

I am confident that we shall overcome and conquer the coronavirus pandemic at a heavy cost. Amid all the change, the medical profession--the pride and legacy of mankind-- will retain its art and science intact. In fact, the science of it stands to gain substantially.

Medicine is a calling. It will remain one. Generations of doctors to come will record that we never gave up in the fight against Covid-19. In this dark time, we remain the only flicker of light. Our knowledge and compassion should lead mankind and the nation out of this abyss. We owe it to our people.

It pains me a lot that 57 of our doctors have already laid down their lives in the war against Covid. Nearly a thousand have contracted the disease. Sent into the battle like a charging brigade without cover or camouflage, we have retained our poise. Now, it’s time to tell the world we are in charge. It is our battle for our people and motherland. We shall overcome.

Let us resolve on this Doctors’ Day that we will lead our nation to safety and public health. Let each of us pledge to save as many lives as possible in our line of duty. Comfort, Console and Counsel. You are the angels of hope against despondence and despair. The finest humans, let your hands be the saviour of mankind.

Dr. Ketan Desai, Past President Indian Medical Association, Medical Council of India & World Medical Association

‘A clinic can’t close, even if there’s a pandemic’


‘A clinic can’t close, even if there’s a pandemic’

Paul John@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad: 01.07.2020

For 46 years, rain or shine, riots or peacetime, there has hardly been a day that Dr Dinesh Shah, 71, did not turn up at his dispensary at Raja Mehta ni Pol in Kalupur. The Covid-19 pandemic has not been any different.

During the lockdown, Shah travelled from his home near Dharnidhar Derasar to see his patients in the walled city every day. “Why should a doctor be so scared of Covid. It’s a viral disease. Precaution is key. Symptomatic treatment, prompt action a must. I say this to my patients,” says Shah.

When Shah saw that his patients were in panic about the pandemic, he stuck to his clinic schedule. “A doctor’s clinic can’t shut. There are people with co-morbid conditions, children who need vaccination, the elderly who need to be referred to specialists, how do we ignore them? You see fear and stigma kills more than a disease. A doctor must not hide in such times. We have all taken an oath,” says Shah.

Shah used to live at the nearby Patasha ni Pol when he first opened the clinic in 1974. An MMBS from NHL Medical College, Shah remembers how he used to open his clinic during riots in the 1970s, the 1985 anti-reservation riots, the Navnirman movement and even during the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

A day to celebrate White Coat Warriors


NATIONAL DOCTOR’S DAY

A day to celebrate White Coat Warriors

MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED DOCTORS IN THE CITY RETURNED TO WORK AFTER BEATING COVID

Paul John@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad: 01.07.2020

The city became a hotspot for Covid-19 by mid-April with daily cases going above 150 regularly. By the beginning of June, the number had touched 300. The death toll also kept rising. But amid the pandemic, doctors gave the virus a tough fight.

As India celebrates National Doctors’ Day on July 1 to mark the birth and death anniversary of former West Bengal chief minister Dr BC Roy, the focus is on White Coat Warriors. Dr Roy also contributed to the foundation of Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Medical Council of India (MCI).

Various doctor organizations claim the figure of 100-plus doctors who have got infected in both public and private hospitals. The city IMA quotes the names of two members and one non-member who succumbed to the infection in the city.

Dr M M Prabhakar, OSD at Medicity, said that it was not easy for doctors to don PPE kits and work for hours at a stretch when cases are spiking. “But the staff at Civil Hospital, led by superintendent Dr J P Modi, work round the clock, ensuring the implementation of the latest treatment protocols,” he said.

The 100-plus days of Covid-19 also brought in radical changes in healthcare delivery, said Dr Jaswantsinh Darbar, vice-president, Ahmedabad zone of IMA. “Many doctors preferred to stay away from families to ensure their safety from infection,” he said. “You see plastic curtains, doctors in protective gear from head to toe, and the use of disinfectants as a routine. All that took a lot of time for doctors to get used to.”

No official communication to block 59 Chinese apps, say Apple, Google


No official communication to block 59 Chinese apps, say Apple, Google

Pankaj.Doval@timesgroup.com

New Delhi  01.07.2020

: A day after the government ordered the “blocking” of 59 Chinese apps, some of them, such as TikTok and Club Factory, decided to approach the Centre seeking to clarify their position, while maintaining that they were compliant with Indian regulations.

The statements came as Apple and Google said they were yet to receive official communication to remove all the 59 Chinese apps from their platforms.

As a result, some of the apps such as CamScanner could be downloaded on devices even on Tuesday — 24 hours after the ministry of electronics and IT announced the government decision to “block” apps since they were seen to be accessing devices and sharing data.

Apple has received an order under Section 69A of the IT Act to remove the popular Chinese video sharing app TikTok from its App store, sources told TOI.

Orders for the removal of the remaining 58 apps, including UC Browser, Club Factory and Shein was yet to be received till late Tuesday evening. Google, which runs the ubiquitous Play Store in Android, had received official orders to remove around 20 apps so far, sources said.

“We don’t implement orders based on mere press releases. We need clearly-defined instructions based on existing rules governing the content and app eco-system,” said an executive. Official sources said the IT ministry has asked the department of telecom to instruct the internet service providers and telecom operators to take down the apps, while also blocking the content on those already downloaded.

An Apple executive said that removing an app “randomly, without any government order” will make the company liable for action. Entities representing TikTok and Club Factory said they have not violated any Indian law. TikTok, the first one to pull out its app from the Apple and Google Play stores, said that it will approach the government.


NO TO CHINA: Working Journalist of India members urge citizens to stop using Chinese apps in New Delhi on Tuesday

‘Not wearing sindoor is disregard to marriage’


RULES GAUHATI HC

‘Not wearing sindoor is disregard to marriage’

Guwahati:01.07.2020

The Gauhati high court has granted divorce to a man whose wife refused to abide by Hindu culture prevalent in eastern part of the country, that of smearing vermilion on her head and wearing conch shell bangle.

In an observation of a kind, the top court in Assam said that the reluctance to wear ‘shankha’ (conch shell bangle) and ‘sindoor’ (vermillion) as have been the tradition and custom among the Hindu married woman, the petitioner wife’s action amounted to a kind of rejection to accept the marriage.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ajai Lamba and Justice Soumitra Saikia observed “under the custom of Hindu marriage, a lady who has entered into marriage according to Hindu rituals and customs, and which has not been denied by the respondent (woman) in her evidence, her refusal to wear shankha and sindoor’ would project her to be unmarried and/or signify her refusal to accept the marriage with the appellant (man). “Such categorical stand of the respondent points to the clear intention of the respondent that she is unwilling to continue her conjugal life with the appellant. PTI

‘Cruelty to wife over her complexion punishable’


‘Cruelty to wife over her complexion punishable’

Saibal.Sen@timesgroup.com

Kolkata:01.07.2020

Cruelty to wife for her dark complexion is a penal offence, punishable under Section 498A of the IPC, Calcutta High Court said in a recent judgment.

The judgment was in a case of alleged marital torture and death of a woman in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district in 1998.

“Causing cruelty to the deceased victim for her black complexion (sic) even after her marriage by the in-laws would definitely attract Section 498A/34 IPC against the in-laws, including the accused husband,” a division bench of justices Sahidullah Munshi and Subhasis Dasgupta remarked in a 31-page order on June 25.

Recounting the woman’s ordeal, additional public prosecutor Arun Kumar Maity said: “Three days into her arranged marriage in October 1997, the woman was made to stay in a cowshed. The high court has made it clear that mental harassment by the husband and in-laws because of her dark complexion is an offence under Section 498A IPC.”

The accused husband, Maziul Miah, and his family had been paid ₹11,000, three silver ornaments and a bicycle, among other things. But the woman was illtreated and even assaulted with acycle chain. She was constantly threatened that her husband would annul their marriage and re-marry.

A trial court had indicated Maziul and his parents for murder and mental torture and sentenced them to life.

Tuticorin airport gets go-ahead to operate night flights


Tuticorin airport gets go-ahead to operate night flights

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Tuticorin:01.07.2020

Tuticorin airport has got licence to operate flights at night from the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation). Various developmental works carried out at an estimated cost of Rs2.3 crore have helped the airport get the licence that makes them eligible to operate flights round-theclock, said Tuticorin airport director N Subramanian. “Till date we could operate flights only from 6am to 6pm due to visibility limitation of 5km. After lockdown we will be able to operate round-the-clock, irrespective of the weather,” said Subramanian.

Tuticorin MP Kanimozhi had written to the civil aviation ministry on multiple occasions following representations from various bodies, including the Tuticorin chapters of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the All India Chamber of Commerce and Industries to facilitate night operations at the airport and to elevate it as an international airport. Night flight operation at Tuticorin was a long-pending demand of the business community as it could cut on expenses such as stay and save a lot of time if those from other cities could fly to Tuticorin in the morning and return the same night. Trade and industry see night operations as the first step that would benefit the region.

Subramanian told TOI that the airport was handling 12 flights, including 10 to Chennai and two to Bengaluru, and around 700 passengers a day. Due to the lockdown it was reduced to four flights in the Chennai-Tuticorin sector.

“Now the airport is capable of handling all-weather dayand-night operations at low visibility for ATR 72, Q 400 and Dornier AN32 type of aircrafts, based on Airline Operator Minima for Runway 28,” he said. Additional safety measures include installing a non-directional beacon and increasing levelled and graded runway strip from the centre line from 75 meters to 140 metres.

NEET quota for govt students: Guv to consult experts


NEET quota for govt students: Guv to consult experts

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 01.07.2020

A fortnight ago the Tamil Nadu cabinet cleared a proposal to provide horizontal reservation for government school students from this academic year. It is now learnt that governor Banwarilal Purohit has been consulting legal experts on the constitutional validity of the scheme. The ordinance is pending before the governor.

The cabinet passed the ordinance after Justice P Kalaiyarasan committee in its report submitted recently pointed to the huge disparities in the socio-economic status of the students of government and private schools. Only four students from government schools got admitted under government quota during 2018-19 and five during 2019-20, while there was nil in 2017-18 when the NEET was first introduced. Only five students were admitted under management quota in the last three years. While 40% government school students passed every year, only 0.1% of the total seats in medical institutions were available to them.

Purohit will ascertain the constitutional propriety of the ordinance before giving his assent. “The state government has passed the ordinance based on sound logic and the governor is critically examining it. The state has requested for an early decision so that students of the current year get the benefit,” government sources told TOI. The new academic year will begin soon.

The government also presented to the governor the committee’s report favouring quota for the students. While 10% horizontal quota was planned initially, the government settled for 7.5% before reaching out to the governor for clearance. The quota is being considered in the private medical colleges too. The horizontal reservations cut across the vertical reservation granted for SC/ST/OBC and general category students.

The EPS government is facing flak for not getting clearance for two bills passed unanimously in the state assembly – the Tamil Nadu Admission to MBBS and BDS Courses Bill, 2017 and the Tamil Nadu Admission to Post Graduate Courses in Medicine and Dentistry, seeking exemption from the national competitive examinations for medical admission.

Have sought more rescue flights from Centre, TN tells HC


FOR TAMILS STUCK ABROAD

Have sought more rescue flights from Centre, TN tells HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 01.07.2020

A day after the Centre accused the Tamil Nadu government of refusing clearance to international rescue flights bringing back Indians stranded in various countries, the state government informed the Madras high court that it has requested the ministry of external affairs to arrange for more flights to land in the state.

Citing a communication dated June 27 issued by the P Senthil Kumar, principal secretary to Tamil Nadu government (FAC), government pleader V Jayaprakash Narayan submitted on Tuesday that the state has addressed the Union ministry of external affairs to arrange adequate Vande Bharath Mission flights to the state.

“.. only four flights have been arranged to evacuate stranded Tamils from UAE, Bahrain and Oman during June 27 to 29. More members of non-resident Tamils are still stranded in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman. Hence, I am directed to request you to kindly arrange adequate number of flights under the VBM/ ships from the above five countries to evacuate stranded Tamil people,” the communication said.

Recording the submissions, a division bench of Justice R Subbiah and Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy directed the state to file a status request as to the number of flights that are likely to be permitted and adjourned the hearing to July 2.

On Monday, the Centre informed the court that since TN government refused clearance for Vande Bharath flights, residents of the state are compelled to land in neighbouring states and then proceed to Tamil Nadu.

“The state government has requested that the number of flights to Chennai be restricted to two per day and not more than one to Trichy, Coimbatore and Madurai , to facilitate smooth reception and observance of Covid-19 protocol,” the ministry of external affairs said through a memo filed in the court.

NEWS TODAY 21.12.2024