Gang rented bikes to carry out snatchings

Gang rented bikes to carry out snatchings

Nexus With Auto Thieves Busted, 14 Arrested

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:03.10.2020

With the arrest of 14 men, police claimed to have unearthed a huge nexus between auto lifters and snatchers in the capital. Auto lifters used to lend two-wheelers to snatchers in exchange of a daily rent and a share in the booty, police said.

The syndicate was run by Vikram, a 35-year-old man who alone is involved in close to 100 cases of auto thefts. Vikram, a resident of Sultanpuri, had Rashid (41) of Raj Park as his right-hand man who has 14 cases of auto thefts. The gang was busted under a special operation called “Eagle Eye”.

The nexus came to light after police teams from outer Delhi recently arrested several snatchers. Following their interrogation, the police suspected the role of a syndicate in all these crimes. It was also learnt that some middlemen used to make the deals between the two groups.

The arrested men told police that usually the stolen bikes were rented out for Rs 2,000 a day. The vehicles were also given in exchange of 30-40% share in the booty.

Deputy commissioner of police (outer) A Koan said a dedicated team, Eagle Squad from Raj Park and Mangolpuri police stations, were tasked with identifying and arresting the syndicate members. “Following regular surveillance through Zipnet and local intelligence, our teams received information about two bikes, stolen from Rohini and Tilak Nagar, lying in Mangolpuri Phase 1.”

A trap was laid and four men were arrested when they reached there to take away the motorcycles, said Koan. “They were identified as Suraj, Manish, Deepak and Nikhil. A countrymade pistol was seized.” The DCP added that the four men gave police addresses of 10 gang members, including mastermind Vikram, the middlemen and the snatchers.

The arrested men said the auto lifters used to provide the stolen bikes to them through some middlemen to avoid any direct contact. It was also revealed that these criminals used to park these vehicles away from their houses to avoid being tracked.

Usually the stolen bikes were rented out for ₹2,000 a day

September high: 1 lakh new cases, 15 lakh tests

September high: 1 lakh new cases, 15 lakh tests

Sidhartha.Roy@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:03.10.2020

In September, Delhi recorded more than one lakh Covid-19 cases, the highest in a month since March when the city saw its first Covid-19 case. The major reason behind this spike is also the record number of tests being carried out last month — 15.2 lakh, around 50,000 a day.

On Friday, Delhi recorded 2,920 fresh Covid-19 cases. In all, 56,258 tests were carried out, with a positivity rate of 5.1%. The number of deaths recorded in the last 24 hours, according to the Delhi government’s health bulletin, was 37, taking the overall Covid toll to 5,438. The death rate, based on the last 10 days’ data, is 1.1%.

Friday’s figure of new cases took the tally of total positive cases to 2.85 lakh. In the last 24 hours, 3,171 patients have recovered, discharged or migrated, taking the total recovery figure to 2.5 lakh, with an overall recovery rate of 88.8%. The cumulative case fatality rate stands at 1.9%. From more than 30,000 at a point of time in September, the number of active Covid cases in Delhi has come down to 26,450.

Of the total 56,258 tests carried out in the last 24 hours, 11,105 were RT-PCR/CBNAAT/TrueNat and 45,153 rapid antigen. With nearly 32 lakh Covid tests conducted since the outbreak in March, the tests per million carried out in Delhi stands at 1,67,981. Of all the tests carried out till date, nearly half were carried out in September. However, the lion’s share of these tests was rapid antigen tests, which are not as reliable as RT-PCR ones.

Out of the total 15,844 Covid beds in Delhi’s hospitals, 6,071 are occupied and 9,773 are vacant. The 8,137 beds in the dedicated Covid care centres have 5,937 beds vacant and 1,291 occupied but the vacant beds include 909 beds occupied by people under quarantine, including travellers who came by Vande Bharat Mission and bubble flights. Out of the 527 beds in the dedicated Covid health centres, 316 are occupied and 211 vacant. The number of Covid-19 patients recuperating in home isolation is 15,852.

Last month, Delhi saw 1,05,692 fresh Covid-19 cases, the highest for a month since the city saw its first corona case. September also saw 917 deaths and 93,885 patients recovering from the disease.

In August, Delhi recorded 40,344 new cases and July 46,914 cases, which is less than the number of cases in September even when combined. June, which had seen the last peak of Covid-19 cases, had recorded 68,968 fresh cases. However, compared to the 917 deaths in September, the fatality count stood at 2,269 in June.

While September saw more than 15.2 lakh Covid tests being carried out, the number of tests carried out in earlier months was much lower. More than 5.5 lakh tests were carried out in August, 4.9 lakh in July and 3.3 lakh in June. The number of tests carried out before June was even lower and records are not available in the public domain.

While the number of new cases recorded in September is the highest, the positivity rate is the lowest since June. The overall positivity rate in June was 20.6%, with the rate even going beyond 30% during the peak. In July, the positivity rate dipped to 9.3%, and in August, it came down further to 7.2% and was 6.9% in September. The cumulative positivity rate in Delhi till date is 8.9%.

By the end of August, as the number of Covid-19 cases started rising, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that Covid-19 tests in the capital would be doubled to 40,000 a day, compared with about 20,000 tests a day being carried out till then.

In September, on average 50,000 tests were carried out every day, though a huge number of these were rapid antigen tests, which provides results within half an hour but are not as reliable as the RT-PCR tests.

While September saw more than 15.2 lakh Covid tests being carried out, over 5.5 lakh tests were carried out in August, 4.9 lakh in July and 3.3 lakh in June

Why viral load is tough to detect

Why viral load is tough to detect

Experts Say RT-PCR Test May Not Give Exact Idea Of Covid Infection Intensity

DurgeshNandan.Jha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:03.10.2020

Covid-19 patients have been flooding laboratories with requests to know the cycle threshold (CT) value of their RT-PCR test. Many believe that the CT value, which refers to the number of cycles needed in RT-PCR test to amplify the viral RNA to reach a detectable level, can help in knowing infectiousness and severity of the disease.

However, microbiologists said there weren’t enough reliable studies to show a definitive and direct correlation between the two. “RT-PCR is a qualitative and not a quantitative test where viral load can be defined clearly,” said Dr Arvind Lal, executive chairman, Dr Lal Path Labs.

RT-PCR, the gold standard for Covid-19 testing, detects the presence of infection in a clinical sample by targeting specific gene sequences of SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes Covid-19, which is usually found inside the nasal cells.

A swab sample taken from a person is put in a viral transport medium and then RNA is extracted from it. The RNA is then amplified using Polymerase Chain Reaction, which can run up to 40 cycles. However, depending on the viral load of a patient, the RNA of the virus could be detected in 15, 20 or even 30 cycles.

Dr Pratibha Kale, associate professor, clinical microbiology at Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, said the CT value was considered inversely proportional to the viral load. “If RNA is detectable in just 15 cycles, it will mean the viral load of the person is very high. However, there are many factors at play. For example, if the swab sample hasn’t been collected properly, the CT value would be high, but the viral load would also be high,” she added.

In many other illnesses, for example Hepatitis C, quantitative tests are available, which can tell the viral load in a patient. “In the case of Covid-19, quantitative testing is difficult because it requires tissue culture and a biosafety level-III lab, which isn’t readily available. It’s time consuming and could be dangerous given the high transmissibility of the virus,” Kale said.

Dr Navin Dang, founder and chairman of Dr Dang’s Lab, said they were flooded with requests for knowing the CT value. “We try to explain to patients that CT value doesn’t help much in knowing the infectiousness or severity of the disease, but they insist on it. Indian Council of Medical Research and Society of Clinical Microbiologists have also clarified this,” he added.

Dr Rommel Tickoo, associate director, internal medicine at Max Saket, said a high viral load didn’t necessarily lead to the infection. “Almost half the people who get Covid-19 stay healthy even after having a similar amount of the virus compared with patients who fall ill. As a physician, CT value is not the only thing I will use to decide the course of treatment,” he added.

Hathras SP, 4 others suspended; village sealed off for second day SIT Wants Narco Test, Polygraph Of Cops, Accused & Complainants

Hathras SP, 4 others suspended; village sealed off for second day

SIT Wants Narco Test, Polygraph Of Cops, Accused & Complainants

Anuja.Jaiswal @timesgroup.com

Hathras:03.10.2020

The village in UP’s Hathras where the 19-year old Dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped before she died was off limits to the media and politicians for the second day in a row. Many who tried to enter and reach out to the bereaved family were manhandled, pushed to the ground and forced off on Friday.

Later in the evening, based on what the SIT suggested in its preliminary report, chief minister Yogi Adityanath suspended Hathras SP Vikrant Veer, three cops posted at Chanda police station at the time of the incident — Sadabad circle officer Ram Shabd, station house officer Dinesh Kumar Verma and sub-inspector Jagveer Singh — along with head moharrir (clerk) Mahesh Pal. Shamli SP Vineet Jaiswal will take over as Hathras police chief.

The SIT also recommended that polygraph and narco tests be conducted on everyone involved in the case — police, the accused and members of the victim’s family.

There is one main access point to the village and a tertiary route from behind farmlands leading up to a cluster of Dalit houses. Both had been barricaded, with six cops at one and 15 at another.

Police stopped a TOI team from entering the village around 11am, warning against “moving any further” and saying they had “strict instructions from higher authorities” to not let anyone pass.

Jipmer gets 49 more MBBS seats this yr

Jipmer gets 49 more MBBS seats this yr

Puducherry:03.10.2020

Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) has increased the number of MBBS seats from 200 to 249 from the academic year 2020-2021 following approval from the competent authorities. The number of seats in the institute’s Puducherry campus was increased from 150 to 187 and Karaikal campus from 50 to 62.

Forty-eight of 187 seats in Puducherry campus and 16 of the 62 seats in Karaikal campus have been reserved for students from the UT. Admission into the MBBS programme will be based on Neet 2020 score. Jipmer conducted entrance examinations separately until last academic year. For more information, visit https://www.mcc.nic.in . TNN

Online classes valid, med body clears air

Online classes valid, med body clears air

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.10.2020

The National Medical Commission which has replaced Medical Council of India (MCI) has clarified that online classes conducted for medical courses in view of the pandemic are valid and approved by the commission.

The commission made the clarification in response to media reports that MCI has informed a group of medical students that such classes are not valid. “It is clarified that in view of the pandemic medical colleges are conducting online theory classes for MBBS students. Online classes are valid and are approved for teaching during the pandemic only," a statement released by the commission said.

Such online theory classes are required to be supplemented by practical and clinical training as per the current curriculum in all MBBS subjects when the colleges are reopened, it added.

It further clarified that the media reports appeared to have relied upon reply given by the erstwhile MCI in response to a RTI query regarding medical courses conducted by foreign universities through online medium only.

On September 28, a group of medical students who approached the Madras high court seeking wavier in fee due to lockdown informed the court that the MCI has informed them that such classes are not recognised.

Informing the Madras high court about the stand of the MCI, senior advocate R Vaigai representing the students said, “The MCI has informed the students that it does not recognise online teaching for medical courses. Students are worried about their future now.”

Vaigai made the submission on the batch of pleas moved by parents of medical students of SRM challenging the college’s demand to pay full fee even for the lockdown period.

Recording the submission, Justice N Anand Venkatesh said, if the MCI is not going to recognise online classes, then the whole point in conducting such classes goes.The court then directed the MCI to clarify its stand by October 5.

Not having valid driver’s licence costs 10% of compensation

Not having valid driver’s licence costs 10% of compensation

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.10.2020

Not possessing a valid driving licence has cost an accident victim’s family 10% of the compensation money awarded to him. An accident claims tribunal held that a percentage of compensation money ought to be deducted for contributory negligence. The victim, a retiree, was killed after a truck mowed down the motorcycle he was driving.

According to a petition moved by B Jayalakshmi of Ambattur, her husband Boopalan was killed in the accident on August 24, 2017, when he was riding along Redhills-Ambattur Road. The petition stated that the truck driver had driven in a rash and negligent manner and rammed into the motorcycle, leading to the Boopalan’s death.

The truck’s insurer disputed the claims and also contended that the victim was not in possession of a valid driving licence and that the two-wheeler was not insured at the time.

Tribunal judge P Revathy, after perusing documents and evidence submitted, noted that while the deceased did not have a valid driving licence, it was clear that the accident occurred due to the rash and negligent driving of the truck driver and held that the insurer was liable to pay compensation.

According to the petition, the victim had sought voluntary retirement from a biscuit manufacturing company and was running a grocery store. Based on various factors including loss of dependency, the tribunal arrived at an amount of ₹5.3 lakh as compensation. After deducting 10% for contributory negligence, the tribunal directed the insurance firm to pay ₹4.8 lakh to the victim’s family within two months. Of ₹4.8 lakh, the wife is to get ₹1.75 lakh and three daughters ₹1lakh each.