1,279 new COVID-19 cases in Karnataka, 20 more deaths
Bengaluru: Karnataka reported 1,279 new cases of COVID-19 and 20 related fatalities on Wednesday, taking the total number of infections to 8,96,563 and the toll to 11,900.
The day also saw 3,218 patients getting discharged after recovery. Bengaluru Urban, with 728 cases, topped the state in the number of fresh infections.
Cumulatively 8,96,563 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 11,900 deaths and 8,61,588 discharges, the health department said in its bulletin.
It said that out of 23,056 active cases, 22,791 patients are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable, while 265 are in Intensive Care Units.
Bengaluru Urban also topped the list in number of deaths, accounting for 13 fatalities, followed by Dakshina Kannada (2), Bengaluru Rural, Dharwad, Kalaburgai, Mysuru and Tumakuru (1 each).
All the deceased had a history of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI), the bulletin said.
Among districts where new cases were reported, Bengaluru urban accounted for 728, Mysuru 71, Mandya 40, Dakshina Kannada and Chikkaballapura 34 each, Tumakuru and Shivamogga 33, followed by others.
Bengaluru urban district topped the list of positive cases, with a total of 3,75,891 infections, followed by Mysuru 51,215 and Ballari 38,407.
Among discharges too Bengaluru urban was on top with 3,54,004 discharges, followed by Mysuru 49,882 and Ballari 37,632.
A total of over 1,19,79,471 samples have been tested so far, out of which 1,01,058 were tested on Wednesday alone.
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Protest against demolition drive turns violent in Kolkata, 3 cops injured
Kolkata (PTI): A protest against the recent bulldozer action in Kolkata's Tiljala turned violent on Sunday as demonstrators hurled stones at police personnel in the minority-dominated Park Circus area, injuring at least three officials and damaging several vehicles.
The flare-up came days after bulldozers rolled into Tiljala as part of the West Bengal government's demolition drive against alleged illegal constructions following the factory fire that killed two persons earlier this week.
On Sunday afternoon, a large number of people gathered near Park Circus Seven Point Crossing to protest against the anti-encroachment drive and attempted to block roads, police said.
As police tried to disperse, what they described as an "unlawful assembly", a section of protesters allegedly resorted to stone-pelting, triggering chaos in the area.
Several vehicles parked along the roadside, including those carrying central forces, were vandalised, officials said.
Heavy deployment of Kolkata Police and central forces was made in the area after the clashes. Route marches and intensified patrolling were undertaken in adjoining localities to prevent further escalation and restore normalcy.
Kolkata Police Additional Commissioner Ashesh Biswas said action has already been initiated against those involved in the violence.
"Some people tried to block the road. It was an illegal gathering. The police were trying to disperse them, and there was pelting of stones. Three of our colleagues were injured," Biswas told reporters.
"We have already arrested a few people," he said.
The officer said police followed standard operating procedures, and efforts were underway to identify all those involved in the violence.
"There was an attack on the police. We will see who is behind it and arrest everyone. Strict legal action will be taken," he added.
While the police maintained the agitation was linked to administrative action against illegal buildings, some locals claimed that grievances over alleged restrictions on the use of loudspeakers during religious prayers and curbs on offering prayers on roads had also contributed to the tensions.
The developments come close on the heels of tension in Kolkata's Rajabazar area on Friday, where a standoff broke out after a group of people allegedly attempted to offer prayers on a public road despite restrictions on blocking traffic.
According to police sources, a large contingent of personnel reached the area and asked people to vacate the road, after which the situation turned tense briefly.
Members of the local community argued that holding Friday prayers on roads had been a long-standing practice in the locality, while the administration maintained that keeping roads clear was necessary for traffic movement and maintenance of law and order.
Police, however, did not indicate any direct connection between the Rajabazar incident and Sunday's violence in Park Circus.
Authorities also did not immediately disclose the number of persons arrested in Sunday's clashes or whether any protesters sustained injuries during the confrontation.
