Medical college ‘hushes up’ ragging incident

Medical college ‘hushes up’ ragging incident

07/12/2021

“The committee submitted its report only on Saturday and over 100 students of Saravanan’s batch were questioned and they said the four students were known to commit such an offence. We had to verify before taking action,” said Ms. Amuthavalli. The accused students were from Dharmapuri.

But asked about the absence of police complaint given that ragging was a serious offence, the Dean said an AR entry (accident register) was made at the time of admission and it was for the police to check the entry.

SP C. Kalaichelvan, however, said, “The first time no direct intimation was given by the hospital to the police. It is standard procedure that upon admission of any person with injuries [in suspicious circumstances], the police should be intimated.” It was projected as a scuffle between students and the hospital wanted it to be handled as an internal matter, he said. Saravanan, meanwhile, sent a mail to the Medical Commission, feeling let down by the perceived delay in the inquiry. The deputy warden, and the chief warden of the hostel, both associate professors at the hospital, resigned from their wardenship on Monday.

Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.

GRH radiologist suspended

GRH radiologist suspended

07/12/2021

Special Correspondent MADURAI

The Director of Medical Education, Chennai, on Monday, has suspended a radiologist of Government Rajaji Hospital on a charge of sexual harassment.

A woman had come for scan to the hospital on November 27. The radiologist, it is alleged, misbehaved with the patient on the pretext of examining her. The patient narrated the incident to Dean A. Rathinavel, who asked the patient to lodge a complaint. Dr. Rathinavel placed the patient’s written complaint before an internal committee. After inquiry, the committee sent the observations based on which the DME ordered the suspension of the radiologist.

The radiologist claimed before the committee that he was being targeted by some of his seniors since he questioned their action during COVID-19 pandemic.

Maharashtra Omicron tally goes up to 10

Maharashtra Omicron tally goes up to 10

Two who arrived from South Africa and U.S. test positive

07/12/2021

More surveillance: A health worker collecting swab samples for COVID-19 testing in Mumbai on Monday. PTI

Staff Reporter Mumbai

Maharashtra on Monday reported two more patients with the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, taking its total tally in the State to 10.

One of them is a 37-year-old man who came from Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 25. His 36-year-old friend, who came from the U.S. the same day, has also tested positive for the new variant, the State Public Health Department said.

Both patients have no symptoms and have been admitted to Seven Hills Hospital in Mumbai. They have taken Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. Five high-risk and 315 low-risk contacts of both these patients have been traced. Further tracing is currently under way.

All 6,263 international passengers from at-risk countries and 635 of the 28,437 who arrived from other countries at three international airports in the State — Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur — have undergone RT-PCR test. Only 11 from at-risk countries tested positive for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Government on Monday reduced the rates for RT-PCR tests. A sum of ₹350 will be charged for the pick up of sample from collection sites, transport and reporting of sample. And ₹500 will be charged for collection from kiosks, COVID-19 care centres, hospitals and clinics and quarantine centres. A sum of ₹700 will be charged for collection of sample from the patient’s residence.

Labs cannot charge more than the prescribed limit from patients, said Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope.

S. African booked for flying out after testing Omicron positive

S. African booked for flying out after testing Omicron positive

His negative COVID-19 report under a cloud; India in touch with Dubai authorities

07/12/2021

Intensifed scan: A health worker collecting swab samples for COVID-19 test in Bengaluru on Monday. K. MURALI KUMAR MURALI KUMAR K

Bengaluru Bureau Bengaluru

The Bengaluru city police have registered a case against a South African national, who tested positive for the Omicron variant but left the country three days later based on a negative COVID-19 test report that has now come under suspicion.

The police have also booked the hotel management where he was under quarantine and let him go without informing the civic authorities.

Though Revenue Minister R. Ashok had said an investigation will be carried out against the laboratory that gave the patient a negative report, the FIR doesn’t list the laboratory as an accused. “We had mentioned the laboratory in our complaint. I will ask our officials to look into the issue,” said Gaurav Gupta, Chief Civic Commissioner of Bengaluru.

Sources said Indian authorities were in touch with their counterparts in Dubai, to where the patient had left. They are also in touch with the South African authorities, sources said.

The police booked the South African national, Mahendra Chibabhai, 66, and the management of a hotel charging them under Karnataka Epidemic Disease Act and under Section 269 (negligent act to spread infection), Section 271 (disobedience of Quarantine Rule) and Section 114 (abetment to offence).

The complaint said the man had landed in the city on November 20 and tested positive for COVID-19 at the airport. He was sent to the hotel and kept in a separate room for 14 days quarantine.

Despite specific instructions to the staff to alert the BBMP officials at the time of his check-out, the management allowed him to leave on November 27 without informing the BBMP, the civic body has alleged.

Upon inquiry, the management justified their action stating he had submitted a COVID-negative certificate from the lab at the time of check-out.

Air passenger tests positive for infection

Air passenger tests positive for infection

07/12/2021

Staff Reporter TIRUCHI

A 63-year-old man who landed at the Tiruchi International Airport on Sunday night tested positive for COVID-19.

The patient was admitted to the special ward for international travellers at the Tiruchi Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital on Monday. His test samples have been sent for genome sequencing to identify the variant of virus.

The man hails from Mayiladuthurai. Health officials said he had mild symptoms.

“We are treating him for the symptoms and will continue to monitor him,” an official said.

Egmore-Salem Express to be operated daily

Egmore-Salem Express to be operated daily

07/12/2021

Staff ReporterSalem

The Chennai Egmore – Salem Jn. – Chennai Egmore Super Fast Express would be operated on a daily basis from December 13, a release said.

According to a release from Salem Railway Division, the service resumed on December 3 as a tri-weekly.

According to a release, the frequency of the trains would be increased and would be operated as daily superfast express trains.

Train no.22153 Chennai Egmore – Salem Jn. Super Fast Express will be operated as a daily train service from December 13.

Train no.22154 Salem Jn. – Chennai Egmore Super Fast Express will be operated as a daily train service from December 14, the release said.

The trains would be operated as fully reserved trains.

The trains would be composed of one AC 2-tier, four AC 3-tier, eight sleeper class, two general second class and two luggage-cum-brake van coaches, the press release added.

Madurai college official booked under POCSO Act gets bail

Madurai college official booked under POCSO Act gets bail

Released at night after surrendering passport; to report to cops daily

Published: 07th December 2021 05:45 AM 

By Shobana Radhakrishnan

Express News Service

MADURAI: Less than a week after ordering judicial custody, Dindigul Mahila Court granted bail to the private nursing college correspondent, one P Jothimurugan, who was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, following students’ complaints. He was released on bail on Saturday night.

Alleging that many girl students were sexually abused by Jothimurugan, the students of the private nursing college in Muthanampatti staged a protest on November 19. Of the three students who came forward to file a police complaint, two were aged below 18. Following the protests, the college was closed indefinitely. Meanwhile, Jothimurugan surrendered at Polur Judicial Magistrate Court in Thiruvannamalai on November 23 and was locked in the Vellore Central Prison.

According to sources, a bail petition was filed on behalf of Jothimurugan at Dindigul Mahila Court last week. On Saturday, he was taken from Palani sub-jail to Dindigul Government Hospital at 8.30 pm as he was allegedly sick. The Mahila Court Judge S Purushothaman, who reviewed the bail petition on Saturday, granted the bail at night on conditions of him surrendering his passport and paying the bail amount of Rs 20,000. He ordered that Jothimurugan should sign at the Vadamadurai police station every day.

N Ilango, General Secretary of Madurai Bench of Madras High Court Bar Association, said that the first Saturday of all subordinate courts is a working day. “There might be several reasons for the order to be passed during the night hours and it is totally within the discretionary power of the court. The bail order should be submitted to the prison authorities on the same day, failing which, it would be considered illegal custody. However, the prisoners are not released after 6 pm usually as the prisoners’ count is already submitted for the day before 6 pm. Even if the bail was granted on a Saturday night, the prison authorities should have released the prisoner on Monday,” he added.