Virus attack kills four elephants at Nandankanan Zoo
Bhubaneswar: Four elephants have died at the Nandanakanan Zoo here after being infected by a virus, prompting the Odisha government to seek assistance from experts of Assam and Kerala.
All the four calves died of Endotheliotrophic Herpes Virus within a span of one month.
"The state government has contacted experts in Assam and Kerala where similar virus has killed several elephants in the past," Forest and Environment Minister of Odisha, B Karukha, said on Saturday.
Since there is no such vaccine to check the spread of the virus, the state government has sought assistance of experts to contain further outbreak.
Out of the eight elephants in the zoo, the Endotheliotrophic Herpes Virus claimed lives of four jumbos so far, the minister said.
Efforts are on to save the remaining jumbos, Arukha said, adding, the latest elephant death was reported on Friday night when a female elephant calf, 'Gauri', succumbed to the EEHV (Elephant Endotheliotrophic Herpes Virus).
Gauri was brought to the Nandankanan Zoo from Athagarh Forest Range in 2012. Out of the remaining four elephants, three are adults. The EEHV mostly affects elephant calves below 15 years of age.
Since most of the elephants were brought from different forests of the state, blood samples will be collected to ensure that the EEHV has not spread to the wild also, the minister said.
All precautionary measures are being taken to save lives of the remaining elephants in the zoo, the Deputy Director of Nandankanan Zoo, Jayant Das, said.
It is not clear whether the virus has also affected the remaining elephants, he said.
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Two held in UP's Bijnor for contact with Pakistan linked Dubai handler
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Bijnor (PTI): Two men were arrested in this Uttar Pradesh district on Friday for allegedly being in touch with a Pakistan-linked handler based in Dubai, police said.
Circle Officer, Najibabad, Anjani Kumar Chaturvedi said Uvaid Malik and Jalal Haider were arrested following inputs on their alleged links with Aqib, a resident of Meerut currently staying in Dubai.
According to police, Aqib had earlier come into the spotlight after a video surfaced on Instagram purportedly showing him displaying an AK-47 rifle and explosives.
During interrogation, the arrested men allegedly told police that Aqib used to incite youngsters against Hindus and encourage anti-national activities, the officer said, adding that detailed questioning of the accused is underway.
On April 6, Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Jha said the video first surfaced in November last year. Aqib, a native of Sathla village in the Mawana area of Meerut, was allegedly seen in the video brandishing weapons.
Following the viral clip, a case was registered at the Nangal police station by sub-inspector Vinod Kumar. However, the then station house officer and investigating officer Satyendra Singh had recorded Aqib's statement and filed a final report, stating that the weapons seen in the video were toys, effectively giving him a clean chit.
Police said fresh developments have now revealed Aqib's suspicious links and the probe has been handed over to the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).
The SP said action has been taken against the officials concerned, with the then SHO and investigating officer suspended and Circle Officer Nitesh Pratap Singh removed from his post.
