New Delhi: A 34-year-old soldier has tested positive for novel coronavirus in Leh, Army sources said on Wednesday.

This is the first COVID-19 case in the armed forces.

The soldier, a resident of Chuhot village in Leh, came in contact with his father who had already contracted the infection. His father had returned from a pilgrimage in Iran by an Air India flight on February 20 and is in quarantine at the Ladakh Heart Foundation since February 29.

The soldier was on leave from February 25 and rejoined duty on March 2. He was quarantined on March 7 and tested positive on March 16, sources said.

The soldier has been isolated at the Sonam Norboo Memorial (SNM) Hospital. His sister, wife and two children are also quarantined at SNM Heart Foundation.

"Even though the soldier had rejoined duty, he was helping his family during his father's quarantine period and stayed at Chuchot village for sometime as well," they said.



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Karwar: A 38-year-old man was killed by a group of assailants inside a hotel in Mundgod on Friday night, police said.

The deceased has been identified as Zameer Ahmed Dargawale, a resident of Noorani Galli.

According to police sources, Zameer had gone to the hotel along with a friend at around 11 pm. During this time, three to four unidentified men allegedly entered the premises, threw a substance into his eyes and attacked him with a knife.

Police said the attackers allegedly stabbed him in the neck. Though he reportedly tried to run for safety, he collapsed in the hotel kitchen and died on the spot.

Investigators said Zameer had allegedly been kidnapped around one-and-a-half years ago and was later rescued in a police operation. He was also reportedly named in five cases, including betting-related offences.

Sirsi DSP Geeta Patil Geeta Patil and Uttara Kannada SP Deepan M N visited the scene and inspected the spot.

The body has been shifted to Karwar for post-mortem examination. Police said three teams have been formed to trace the accused.