Fresh security concerns: 23-yr-old stabbed to death by 3 in Tihar Jail

Fresh security concerns: 23-yr-old stabbed to death by 3 in Tihar Jail

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi  01.12.2020

: In yet another incident that has raised questions over the security of prisoners, a 23-year-old undertrial was brutally stabbed to death by three inmates inside Tihar Jail on Monday morning.

In September, another prisoner was killed in a similar manner after which several undertrials had recorded a video alleging that the jail superintendents were hand in glove with criminals and even helped them execute such murders. The prison administration had then set up a committee to probe the allegations.

Dilsher, who was killed on Monday, was lodged in jail number 3 and was facing trial in a murder case, said a Tihar official. He was jailed on June 11, 2019. Around 9.30am, police were informed about the undertrial being attacked by three inmates following a quarrel. The prisoner was rushed to Central Jail Hospital where he was declared dead.

DCP (West) Deepak Purohit said the three accused inmates have been booked for murder. During investigation, it was found that the trio had used a sharp metal piece to stab Dilsher. The attack was the fallout of an argument that had taken place between them some time ago.

The incident raises serious questions over security lapse and safety of prisoners inside the jail. Last month, a 4 minute 44 second video allegedly shot inside jail number 1 had surfaced on social media in which an inmate could be seen giving a detailed account of mishaps inside Tihar. It included the sequence of events that had led to the murder of an inmate, Sikander (29), on September 24 by four prisoners.

The inmate alleged that the murder was done in a planned manner and jail officials were a part of it. Several other inmates could also be seen standing in the video. The inmate further alleged that the prison authorities didn’t clean the blood on the ground. In another 30-second video, another inmate claimed that he had witnessed the murder, but no one took his statement.

Sikander was attacked with a sharp object outside his barrack in jail number

1. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. His family members had alleged that he was stabbed with a knife.

DISTURBING TREND: In September, another prisoner was killed in a similar manner

AIIMS doctor, first to get Covaxin shot in 3rd phase, says there were no side-effects

AIIMS doctor, first to get Covaxin shot in 3rd phase, says there were no side-effects

DurgeshNandan.Jha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 01.12.2020 

India is among the few countries in the world to have isolated the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19. Now, it is on track to develop one of the cheapest vaccines, according to Dr M V Padma Srivastava, chief of neurosciences at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Last week, Dr Srivastava volunteered for the third phase of trial for Covaxin, an indigenous vaccine developed by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with Bharat Biotech. “I was the first to receive the Covaxin shot in AIIMS, Delhi, last Thursday,” the neuroscience expert told TOI. Another shot will be given after 28 days.”

The 55-year-old doctor added that she had not suffered any side-effect after the administration of the vaccine. Recently, there was a controversy when a participant in a test for another Covid-19 vaccine claimed to have had severe side-effects.

AIIMS plans to enrol more than 1,000 volunteers for the third phase of the Covaxin trials. Sources said 40-50 volunteers have already registered and have even received the first shot of the indigenous Covid vaccine.

“The third phase of the trials will have more than 26,000 participants across the country. It is the most important stage of trials and comes before the vaccine can be used to immunise people against the viral infection that has been plaguing the world for nearly nine months,” disclosed a senior doctor in the community medicine department of AIIMS. The doctor also revealed that the first and second phase of the trials for Covaxin had been completed and that it had been well tolerated by the test participants.

Apart from Covaxin, there are other vaccines for Covid being developed, among them being those by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford-AstraZeneca. “Unlike the other Covid vaccines, Covaxin is likely to be much cheaper,” claimed the doctor at AIIMS who is leading the vaccine trials. “Also, storage and transportation are going to be easier for India. This vaccine can be stored at a temperature of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius.” The other vaccines comparably require very low storage and transport temperatures.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Bharat Biotech facility in Genome Valley, Hyderabad, on Saturday and congratulated the scientists involved in the vaccine development project for their progress in the project. After the visit, the PM had tweeted, “At the Bharat Biotech facility in Hyderabad, was briefed about their indigenous Covid-19 vaccine. Congratulated the scientists for their progress in the trials so far. Their team is closely working with ICMR to facilitate speedy progress.”

After Dr Srivastava (in pic), AIIMS plans to enrol over 1k volunteers for the 3rd phase of the Covaxin trials. Sources said 40-50 volunteers have already registered

Goa’s ex-chief secy sentenced to 2-yr jail for fraud, gets bail

Goa’s ex-chief secy sentenced to 2-yr jail for fraud, gets bail

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Panaji:01.12.2020

A special CBI court in New Delhi has sentenced former chief secretary of Goa R K Srivastava to two years rigorous imprisonment and Rs 35,000 fine in a case pertaining to the revival of a defunct housing society in Delhi using forged documents, the agency said in a statement.

Later, he secured bail in the case.

Srivastava was convicted for his involvement in the revival of Delhi-based Shree Radhakrishna Co-op Group Housing Society Ltd when he was the registrar of co-operative societies, New Delhi, the agency said.

He was charged for entering into a criminal conspiracy with officials of co-operative societies, New Delhi, to revive the society on the basis of false/forged/bogus documents, CBI statement said.

The court directed Srivastava and Padam Dutt Sharma, the then deputy registrar of co-operative societies, New Delhi, to undergo two years RI with a fine of Rs 35,000 each. It also sentenced three others—Subhash Chander and Mayank Goswami to undergo four years RI with fine of Rs 25,000 and Ashwani Sharma to undergo four years RI with fine of Rs 30,000—in the case.

Following the orders of the Delhi high court, CBI had registered a case on October 26, 2006, against Chander and others.

Srivastava was chief secy of Goa from 2014-16

Earlier, a preliminary inquiry was registered. Investigation showed that Srivastava in connivance with Sharma and other accused were involved in the fraud, CBI said. After investigation, a charge sheet was filed against 12 accused in the court of special judge for CBI cases, New Delhi.

Srivastava served as the chief secretary of Goa from 2014-16. He was given an extension in service twice beyond his superannuation as the state was hosting the Brics summit during that period. In January 2017, he was appointed as the state election commissioner. Srivastava resigned in the first week of November citing “personal reasons”.

When the bail application filed by Srivastava came up for hearing before the high court, the public prosecutor sought to file a status report in the case. The high court directed the public prosecutor to file it before the next date of hearing and adjourned the case to February 17, 2021.

Srivastava has also filed an appeal against the order passed by the trial court directing him to undergo imprisonment.

The CBI stated that the trial court convicted the accused and acquitted five others. Two accused have since expired.

Medical colleges to focus on practicals

Medical colleges to focus on practicals

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

01.12.2020

Bengaluru: Colleges affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) will reopen for physical classes on Tuesday and while medical colleges will kick off practical and clinical sessions, some dental and pharmacy colleges have scheduled exams and may not resume regular classes immediately.

To ensure social distancing, colleges plan to divide students into batches of 20 or 30 for practical classes. “We have about 130 students in a batch,” said Dr Sanikop Mallikarjun, principal, Oxford Medical College. “We plan to make groups of 27 for practicals. Each group can remain in a single department for the entire day. Most theory portions were covered through online classes, so the focus will be on practicals.”

Jayanti C R, director, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, said the emphasis will be on first and final year students as they have exams coming up. Buses have been arranged to pick and drop students.

“Most hostel students are back. Students of other batches have also started trickling in. We will make batches of 20 for practicals,” she said.

Dr VT Venkatesh, principal, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, said they plan to have 2-3 faculty in practical classes so that students can be taught in smaller groups.

“The number of Covid-19 cases has fallen so there should be more non-Covid patients as well,” said Dr Venkatesh. “Students can examine these patients and learn. They have missed out on practical exposure for so long.”

Meanwhile, many dental colleges have exams under way. “The exams are under way and only odd batches are free now. Their numbers are very small. Physical classes will resume after the exams,” said Dr Asha R, principal, RV Dental College.

Dr Ramachandra Shetty, principal of Government College of Pharmacy, which has also scheduled exams, said classes could start only by the end of December or January.

Poor social distancing

Hostel students, however, claimed social distancing has been poor especially in common areas. “We have common mess and toilets so Covid protocols are hard to abide by,” said a final year MBBS student of a medical college in Tumkur. Some colleges do not allow students to step out as a precaution.

Many international students will have to skip classes and exams over. “I cannot travel to India for my exams due to lack of flights,” said an MBBS student who is currently in Malaysia.

SAFE APPROACH: Dental and pharmacy colleges have scheduled exams and will begin regular classes later this month

While we have given students the option of online classes, all those who have practicals have to report to college. All affiliated colleges can reopen. We’ll know the attendance only once the first-day ends

Dr S Sacchidanand VC, RGUHS

IMD: After ‘Nivar’ another storm to hit Kerala, TN

New Delhi:01.12.2020

A fresh low-pressure area, formed over the Bay of Bengal after landfall of cyclone ‘Nivar’, is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm of low intensity and cross the Sri Lankan coast on Wednesday evening, bringing heavy rainfall to India’s southernmost parts, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned.

After crossing the Sri Lankan coast, the cyclone will move westwards and emerge into the Comorin area on Thursday morning, the agency added. The system, as per the IMD’s forecasts on Monday, will bring heavy to very heavy rainfall over south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala and adjoining areas during December 2-4.Though it will not be severe like ‘Nivar’, the agency has advised fishermen not to venture into south-east and adjoining south-west Bay of Bengal from Tuesday night. TNN

Cyclonic storm: Red alert issued in 4 districts

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kochi:01.12.2020

IMD and Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) have asked people to stay away from beaches and coasts as the sea will turn rough from Tuesday. The weather report said that a depression – formed in the southeast Bay of Bengal – is moving toward Kanyakumari and south Kerala coasts which will later become a cyclonic storm at night on Wednesday.

The IMD on Monday issued orange alert (very heavy rainfall of 11-20cm) for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Idukki on Wednesday. Red alert (extremely heavy rain of over 20cm) has been issued for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha on Thursday with an orange alert in Kottayam, Ernakulam and Idukki. The winds on these days would become gales (speeds reaching 70-80km/hr and gusting to 90 km/ hr). Kerala has imposed a total ban on fishing in the Arabian Sea and all fishermen have been asked to return to the nearest coast. Squally weather with wind is likely over southwest Bay of Bengal, Kerala coast, southeast Arabian Sea, Maldives and Lakshadweep by Wednesday.

District disaster management authority of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Idukki are on alert. KSDMA officials informed district teams to ensure that trees, likely to be uprooted, be trimmed down with help of fire brigade.

All hoarding and boards are being removed to prevent damages and people have been told not to park cars under trees. Travel to high ranges is being discouraged for the next few days.

Control rooms will be opened in all taluk offices with deputy tahsildars. Irrigation department officials have been asked to monitor water levels in rivers, dams and reservoirs.

Bees settle on aircraft at Kolkata airport, flights delayed

Tamaghna Banerjee & Subhro Niyogi TNN

Kolkata:01.12.2020

A swarm of bees settled in on two Vistara Airlines aircraft parked in the same bay at Kolkata airport 16 hours apart, forcing an hour’s delay in the flights and deployment of fire-fighting water bowsers on both occasions to drive them away.

This is the third instance of bees taking a fancy to planes in Kolkata. Last September, bees had swarmed an Air India aircraft. The incidents on Sunday evening and Monday morning occurred at bay 25, leading to the airline requesting the airport operator to allocate another bay for the time being. The problem first occurred around 4pm on Sunday, just before boarding was to commence for the Delhi-bound flight. As the swarm settled on the plane’s exterior, boarding was put on hold and the fire services department alerted.

“Within minutes, lakhs of bees had settled on the plane as though ready to build a hive. Water jets had to be sprayed for a good 30 minutes to dislodge them. The flight ultimately took off at 6.30pm instead of 5.30pm,” said an airline official.

Vistara ground staff were in for a shock on Monday morning as well when they found the bees back on another aircraft. Though there were other planes in adjoining bays, the bees chose the Vistara aircraft scheduled to leave for Port Blair at 10.30am.

Full report on www.toi.in