Udupi, May 31: Manipal Centre for Virus Research head and Prof Dr Arun Kumar on Thursday clarified that a hoax has been doing rounds in the social media that the source of Nipah virus is poultry chicken and no chicken were tested in the Manipal centre.

The centre has been toiling to find out the root of the virus and containing it from spreading. But some miscreants have misused the name of the centre to spread rumours saying that ‘source of Nipah virus is poultry chicken and doctors of the Manipal Institute of Virology have confirmed it’. Through this, wrong information is being given to the public, he said.

No chicken were tested related to Nipah virus in the centre and confirmed about the virus. The centre has already lodged a complaint at Cyber Crime Police station at Udupi to take action against those who have been spreading the message in the social media, Dr Arun Kumar said.



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Ballia (PTI): A police inspector has been suspended here for allegedly using abusive and obscene language during a phone conversation with a 33-year-old rape survivor, officials said on Wednesday.

The action came after an audio clip, purportedly of Inspector Naresh Malik of the Crime Branch, went viral on social media on Monday.

In the clip, he is allegedly heard speaking to the woman in an objectionable manner during his earlier posting as inspector (crime) at the local Ubhaon police station.

According to the police, a case was registered on February 20 at the Ubhaon police station based on the woman's complaint.

The woman had alleged that a forest department sub-inspector, Ugrasen Kumar Jaiswal, raped her about six months ago on the pretext of marriage. She also alleged that he threatened to kill her if she pursued the complaint.

In a separate complaint sent to the deputy inspector general of police, the survivor alleged that Malik and SHO Sanjay Shukla had called her and used abusive and obscene language, asking her to meet them alone. She further alleged that they told her her case would be helped only if she "satisfied" them, and that Malik even offered her money during the conversation.

Superintendent of Police Omveer Singh said the matter came to his notice on Monday, following which Malik was placed under suspension with immediate effect.

An inquiry has been ordered into the allegations, and Additional Superintendent of Police (North) Dinesh Kumar Shukla has been assigned to probe the matter, Singh said.

"Strict action will be taken against the accused based on the findings of the inquiry," the SP added.