UP: 12 from family in Bareilly fall ill after consuming 'pinni' sweets, FSDA raids dairy
Bareilly (UP), Jul 1 (PTI): Nine women and three children from a family here fell ill after consuming 'pinni' sweets made for a religious offering, officials said on Tuesday.
All of them were taken to the district hospital with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea on Monday, they said.
Dr Shailesh Ranjan, Emergency Medical Officer at the hospital said the patients exhibited clear signs of food poisoning.
"The children are under special observation and all patients are receiving appropriate treatment. Their condition is now stable," he said.
Shobhit Saxena, a resident of BDA Colony said his mother Vinita Saxena had asked for 'pinni' to be made for a prayer ceremony on Monday.
"We bought around 1.25 kg of 'mawa' from Gurjar Dairy. The sweets were prepared by 10 am and offered to the women in our family. Within a few hours, they all began showing symptoms," he said.
By 1 pm, vomiting and diarrhoea had begun and by 6 pm, they were admitted to the district hospital.
The sweets were made from 'mawa' (evaporated milk solids) bought from Gurjar Dairy in Chauhan Market. Initially, the dairy owner dismissed the concerns, blaming excessive consumption.
However, as the health of all affected family members worsened, the family approached police.
Based on the family's complaint, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) team conducted a raid at the dairy. Samples of the 'mawa' were collected and sent to a lab in Lucknow for analysis.
Authorities also destroyed stored 'mawa' and 'paneer' found at the dairy. Police said they have taken the shop owner into custody for questioning.
"If the lab confirms adulteration or substandard quality in the samples, strict action will be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act," an FSDA official said.
Subhash Nagar police station in-charge Jitendra Singh said that the vendor is being interrogated based on the family's complaint.
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CPI(M) rebel Kunhikrishnan hopes for 5,000-vote win in Payyanur
Kannur (Kerala) (PTI): CPI(M) rebel candidate V Kunhikrishnan, who contested as a UDF-backed Independent from Payyanur here, on Saturday said he was hoping to win the Assembly election by a margin of 5,000 votes.
Kunhikrishnan was expelled from the CPI(M) earlier this year after raising allegations of corruption in the party’s martyrs’ fund against sitting MLA T I Madhusoodanan.
Speaking to a TV channel, Kunhikrishnan said he had announced his candidature as a mark of protest and not with expectations of victory.
However, he said the situation had changed drastically, with a strong undercurrent within CPI(M) votes favouring him.
"The undercurrent in CPI(M) votes cannot be measured. Now people are giving a response indicating victory with a margin of at least 5,000 votes," he said.
Payyanur is considered a CPI(M) stronghold, and a defeat for Madhusoodanan there would be a major setback for the party.
On political violence in Payyanur, Kunhikrishnan said he had been facing it since filing his nomination.
"The people leading this violence should think about how long they can continue it. It is the police which has to take the initiative to stop this violence as part of maintaining law and order. But the police are not intervening at the required level," he said.
Regarding his political future, Kunhikrishnan said efforts were underway to strengthen Left groups, and discussions were being held across Kerala in that regard.
"After discussing with others, a decision will be taken," he said.
Kunhikrishnan is among six former CPI(M) leaders who either exited the party or were suspended before contesting for the UDF in the April 9 Assembly elections.
Elections to the 140-seat Kerala Assembly were held on April 9, and the counting of votes will be held on May 4.
