Decision on further relaxing COVID restrictions in Karnataka on Saturday: CM Yediyurappa
Bengaluru: A decision on further relaxing lockdown restrictions in the state after June 21 when the current curbs come to an end, will be taken on Saturday, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said.
"The situation is improving. There is also a possibility of a third wave in the future, but despite that we will have to give some relaxations. We will discuss it at a meeting tomorrow evening, and take a decision," Yediyurappa told reporters on Friday.
According to official sources, the government may announce relaxations in 11 districts where lockdown measures have continued, while further relaxations in terms of movement of people and opening of businesses may be announced in the remaining 19 districts from June 21.
The government had last week issued fresh guidelines extending the COVID induced lockdown in 11 districts, which have a high positivity rate, till June 21, where citizens were allowed to buy essentials between 6 am and 10 am.
Some relaxations were announced in the remaining 19 districts from June 14, allowing essential shops to be open from 6 am to 2 pm, and movement of people till 7 pm.
It had also imposed COVID curfew (daily) from 7 pm to 5 am and weekend curfew from 7 pm on Friday to 5 am on Monday.
The 11 districts where strict lockdown measures have continued are Chikmagalur, Shivamogga, Davangere, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Bengaluru Rural, Mandya, Belagavi and Kodagu.
The Karnataka government had initially announced 14 days 'close-down' from April 27, but subsequently imposed a complete lockdown from May 10 to May 24, as the COVID cases continued to spike.
Citing lockdown yielding results and experts' advice, it was further extended till June 7 and then again till June 14.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister along with a few Ministers today held discussions with officials on precautionary measures to be taken in case of flood situation, due to monsoon rains in the state.
Yediyurappa said Maharashtra's irrigation minister will be visiting the state on Saturday and will hold discussions with him.
Release of excess water from dams in Maharashtra during heavy rains there usually causes flood-like situation in the bordering districts of the state.
Yediyurappa said he will also hold a meeting via video conference on Saturday with Deputy Commissioners of 20 districts regarding monsoon preparedness and preventive measures to be taken in case of floods there.
Noting that the state is receiving good rains and farmers are involved in sowing activities, he said measures have been taken to ensure availability of seeds and fertilisers without any shortage.
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Mangaluru CCB Police arrest four MDMA peddlers, seize 270 grams of contraband
Mangaluru: Mangaluru City Crime Branch (CCB) has successfully arrested four individuals suspected of peddling MDMA on the 15th of May. The arrests were made as the suspects were transporting the banned substance from Bengaluru to Mangaluru via car. The interception took place at Deralakatte, Mangaluru, following specific intelligence received by the police.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Mohammed Ameen Rafi (23), Mohammed Sinan Abdulla (23), Mohammed Nauman (22), and Mohammed Safil (23), all residents of various locations within Mangaluru. Along with the suspects, the police confiscated 270 grams of MDMA, with an estimated street value of Rs 6,50,000, alongside four mobile phone handsets, a Toyota Corolla car, and a digital weighing scale, valued at a total of Rs 14,85,500.
According to police sources, the accused were involved in procuring the illicit substance from Bengaluru and distributing it to students and members of the public across Karnataka and Kerala. Mohammed Rafi has a prior case registered against him for drug peddling in the Mangaluru South police station in 2021.
The operation was executed under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner of Police (CCB) Geetha Kulkarni. She was assisted by Police Inspector Shyam Sunder H M, Police Sub-Inspector Sharanappa Bhandary, and other CCB personnel.
A case relating to this incident has been filed at the Cen Police Station, and further investigations are underway.
