“Need 10 boxes of cigarettes delivered to my home” man asks journalist helping with oxygen and beds
Bengaluru: At a time when the country is worst affected by the deadly second-wave of Coronavirus activists, NGOs, Journalists and others have stepped in to help people in distress. They are using social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram to take distress call from people and to help them.
On Saturday India witnessed nearly 3.5 lakh cases across the country. With cases piling up the state governments have also resorted to night curfews and weekend curfews in their respective states to curb the spread of the virus.
While many are following the COVID protocols of staying at home, some of them are mocking and trolling people who are out on the ground to cover stories, help people in distress, and others.
In one such incident shared by a journalist working with The News Minute, Prajwal shared a screenshot of his Instagram messages where a person was seen asking him to deliver 10 boxes of cigarettes to his home as nobody was delivering it.
“Need 10 boxes of Malbaro lights. Delivered to my home rn. Nobody is delivering” (SIC) the user wrote in his message. (Marlboro lights is a brand of cigarettes)
Prajwal took to his Twitter account and share the screenshot without naming the person who sent him the message and urged people to not do it.
“Please don't do this. I am working on stories and sending emergency requests for oxygen, hospital beds to volunteer teams. Read the situation outside” Prajwal wrote in the tweet.
People on Twitter asked Prajwal to name the person or to share his account ID.
Please don't do this. I am working on stories and sending emergency requests for oxygen, hospital beds to volunteer teams. Read the situation outside ?? pic.twitter.com/wt3uHoX3g2
— Prajwal (@prajwalmanipal) April 24, 2021
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Allahabad HC orders probe into 'reinstatement' of teacher in UP's Barabanki
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered a probe by the special task force (STF) into alleged irregularities in the rejoining of a teacher at City Intermediate College in Barabanki, observing that the reinstatement appeared to be prima facie illegal.
The court also directed the recovery of the salary paid to the teacher during the disputed period.
A bench of Justice Rajeev Singh passed the order on a petition filed by the college management committee. The court expressed doubts over the roles of the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Barabanki, the college principal and the teacher concerned and hence, directed a detailed inquiry into the matter.
Taking note of alleged manipulation of records and misleading submissions, the court ordered the immediate transfer of the Barabanki DIOS to ensure a fair probe. It also directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the then joint director of education of the Ayodhya division.
In its order, the court found that the teacher, Abhay Kumar, was initially appointed as an assistant teacher in 2018 but joined an Eklavya Model Residential School in Chhattisgarh as a lecturer in June 2024 without obtaining permission from the management. His subsequent request to retain the lien was rejected.
Despite this, he was allowed to rejoin the Barabanki College in September 2025 on the directions of the joint director of education and the DIOS, and was even paid the salary for October 2025. The court termed the rejoining "wholly illegal" and lacking any legal basis.
The bench also expressed concern over lapses in communication within the education department and directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to ensure that official orders are communicated through email and WhatsApp as well, to prevent disputes.
The matter is next listed for hearing on May 28 when a compliance report is sought.
