Karnataka ramps up border surveillance of poultry trucks as bird flu hits neighbouring states
Bengaluru: Karnataka has ramped up its border surveillance and monitoring efforts following an avian (bird) flu outbreak in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. The state’s Animal Husbandry Department has reportedly increased checks on poultry trucks entering from these states, with particular focus on the districts of Bidar, Kalaburagi, and Belagavi.
A senior official told Deccan Herald that although zero cases have been reported in Karnataka, every poultry truck crossing the state’s borders is thoroughly inspected, and officials are closely monitoring poultry farms for any signs of bird deaths. "We are also watching water bodies that see many migratory birds for any risks of infections or deaths," the official added.
Ansar Ahmed, the project director for the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, reassured the public that no bird flu cases have been detected in Karnataka. He emphasised the importance of basic hygiene practices, urging the public to wear gloves, shoes, and masks when handling animals or raw meat, wash hands frequently, consume only properly cooked meat, avoid mixing raw and cooked meat, and steer clear of contact with suspected infected animals. He also advised getting the seasonal flu vaccine for added protection.
While some local chicken sellers have reported a decline in sales, the Karnataka Poultry Farmers and Breeders’ Association noted that there has been no drop in statewide demand or supply, the report mentioned.
Harsh Gupta, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, told DH that there is "absolutely no cause for concern". He stated that officers are continuously monitoring poultry farms, and there is a standard protocol to isolate poultry if there is any death reported in any of them.
“We have more than sufficient stocks of the treatment — an anti-viral tablet — in our state medical supplies corporation godowns,” he added.
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Two arrested in K'taka for assaulting minors, uploading CSAM content
Bengaluru (PTI): Two men were arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two minor girls, recording the acts on mobile phones and uploading the videos online as child sexual abuse material, police said on Thursday.
The accused have been identified as Kiran Kumar (29), hailing from Chitradurga district, and Aditya M K (20), hailing from Shivamogga district, they said.
A probe was initiated after information was received from the NCRP portal regarding a suspected instance of creation of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) for online dissemination, police said.
Accordingly, a case was registered at Kaggalipura Police Station under relevant sections of the IT Act on May 10, they added.
Investigation revealed that two minor girl victims were exploited and videos were created and uploaded to the internet. The child victims have subsequently recorded their statements as per procedure and further necessary legal steps have been taken, Pronab Mohanty Director General of Police, Cyber Command, said in a statement.
Based on the statements of the victims, the accused persons, who allegedly assaulted the minors, recorded the acts on mobile phones and uploaded the videos online, were arrested, he said.
Following the probe, sections 65(2) (rape) and 70 (gangrape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant sections of the POCSO Act, have been added to the FIR, police said.
Officials collected relevant information and on May 12, arrested the accused persons and seized three mobile phones belonging to them, in which the videos had allegedly been recorded, he said.
The accused were later produced before the court and taken into police custody for further investigation, he added.
According to him, in CSAM cases, police usually apprehend offenders who have downloaded such content or have kept them in their possession after obtaining them from elsewhere, usually the internet.
"The present case is one of the very few instances where content creators and uploaders have been apprehended," Mohanty added.
