Fruit bats identified as source of Nipah virus spread
Thiruvananthapuram, July 3: Fruit bats were the source of Nipah virus which created havoc in Kerala's Kozhikode in May according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), an official said on Tuesday.
Kerala Health Secretary Rajiv Sadanandan said that tests of the first batch of 21 bats were were negative, but the second set of tests done on 55 fruit bats from Kozhikode confirmed that the nocturnal mammals were behind the spread.
Sadanandan told IANS that Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Tuesday confirmed the latest test results.
At least 13 people died and more than 2,000 were kept under observation when the virus struck in May. Most of them were from Kozhikode district and some from Malappuram.
Even when the final green signal came from Kerala health authorities that the fear of the spread has been contained, the source of the virus outbreak was yet to be ascertained.
The ICMR is the country's premier body engaged in formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research.
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Meghalaya police registers case against man for shouting 'Jai Shri Ram' in Church
Shillong, Dec 28: Meghalaya Police have registered a case against a man for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of people by trespassing inside a church and shouting 'Jai Shri Ram' at its altar in East Khasi Hills district, an officer said on Friday.
The man had entered the Mawlynnong village Church on Thursday and shouted 'Jai Shri Ram' and posted it on social media, the officer said.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has condemned the act and said administrative legal procedures are on in the matter wherein an individual targeted to vitiate peaceful coexistence of the people.
"The action seems deliberate. We as a state government will leave no stone unturned to prevent anyone from creating social, religious, and communal disharmony. Legal action is on," the CM told PTI.
East Khasi Hills SP Sylvester Nongtynger told PTI, "We have registered a case at Pynursla police station against a person named Akash Sagar on Instagram after a complaint was lodged in this regard."
He said an investigation is on and efforts are on to nab the culprit.
Social activist Angela Rangad filed a police complaint on Thursday seeking legal action against the person.
"Sagar deliberately and in a premeditated and planned way trespassed into the altar area and shouted non-Christian songs. This act was deliberately done to create communal disharmony, insulting the minority culture in violation of all constitutional rights of religious freedom," she said.
The Central Puja Committee, an influential Hindu organisation in the state, has condemned the act.
"We noted with anguish to see a video circulated on social media outraging and violating the religious sentiments of everyone in this peace-loving state. We condemn the activity of this individual and urge the police to take stringent and exemplary action as per law against this individual," CPC president Naba Bhattacharjee said.
Meghalaya BJP chief spokesperson M Kharkrang said, "Appropriate preventive measures must be taken against such brainless pranks and necessary legal action should be taken to ensure that such a mischievous deed gets their deserved punishment."
Meghalaya police have asked hotels, homestays and tour operators to report to the police if they have information about the whereabouts of Akash Sagar.
The #MeghalayaPolice have registered a case against a man for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of people by trespassing inside a church and shouting ‘#JaiShriRam’ at its altar in #Meghalaya's #EastKhasiHills district.
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) December 28, 2024
The man had entered the #Mawlynnong village Church… pic.twitter.com/eo4MGZn2EW
