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  • Coronavirus lockdown: Invoke Essential Commodities Act to curb black marketing, Home Secretary tells States

    Offences under the Act are criminal offences and may result in imprisonment of seven years or fine or both

    PTI

    Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla wrote to all State Chief Secretaries on Wednesday to ensure the availability of essential goods by invoking the provisions of the Essential Commodities (EC) Act 1955.

    Offences under the EC Act are criminal offences and may result in imprisonment of seven years or fine or both. The State and Union Territory governments may also consider detention of offenders under the Prevention of Black-marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said.

    “I would urge you to personally take urgent steps to ensure availability of these commodities at fair prices for public at large,” Mr. Bhalla said in his letter.

    These measures include fixing of stock limits, capping of prices, enhancing production, inspection of accounts of dealers and other such actions, a statement by the MHA said.

    Loss of production

    “There have been reports of loss of production due to various factors, especially reduction in labour supply. In this situation, there is a possibility of inventory building/hoarding and black marketing, profiteering, and speculative trading, resulting in price rise of essential goods. The States have been asked to take urgent steps to ensure availability of these commodities at fair prices for public at large,” the MHA said.

    Earlier, with an order issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the MHA had allowed manufacture/production, transport and other related supply-chain activities in respect of essential goods such as foodstuff, medicines and medical equipment.

    Further, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution is authorising States and Union Territories to notify orders under the EC Act, 1955 by relaxing the requirement of prior concurrence of the Central government up to June 30, 2020.

    On Tuesday, Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the status of essential commodities and issued directives to take swift and strict action against hoarders.

  • Police flex muscles on violators in Tral Police not enemy of people: SDPO

    Tral, April 9: Police Thursday flexed muscles on people who in violation of prohibitory orders were queued up in front of various outlets in South Kashmir’s Tral town.

    Reports said that people in large numbers in Tral town were seen gathering at different places and most of them were busy in gossips on shop fronts.

    A team led by Station House Officer, Tral, GM Rather swung into action and charged on people with canes. Reports added that people after facing lathis dispersed and went back to their homes.

    SDPO Tral, Dr Ajaz Malik told KNT that action was become inevitable in wake of Covid-19 outbreak. “It is in the interest of people to stay indoors and don’t venture out unnecessarily,” he added.

    “Except exigencies, people should not assemble at one place and venture out,” he added.

    Malik said that police is not enemy of people but are enforcing lockdown for their welfare and wellbeing. (KNT)

  • Funeral of militant: People who violated prohibitory orders will be booked: SP Sopore

    Sopore, April 9: Police have started identifying those who participated in the funeral of a slain militant in Sopore in violation to government’s prohibitory orders. Pertinently, thousands of people participated in the last rites of a slain militant Sajad Nawabi of Jaish-e-Muhammad who was killed in Armpora Sopore gunfight.

    Superintendent of Police Sopore told KNT that the participation of large number of people in the funeral of slain militant not only violated the set guidelines issued by the government in wake of Covid-19, but it also exposed the entire population in the area to the pandemic. He said that an FIR vide number 70/2020 under section 188 has been registered in this regard and videos of this procession are being checked and those who participated in it are being identified. He said there is already a lockdown in Sopore and people are again requested not to venture out in any circumstances barring medical exigencies. He said those who participated in the funeral completely violated the government order and will face the music. (KNT)

  • Coronavirus | 162 new positive cases recorded in Maharashtra as tally is put at 1,297

    The bulk of the new cases were from Mumbai, where a further 143 persons tested positive

    PTI

    In all, 162 new COVID-19 cases were reported across Maharashtra, taking the cumulative tally to 1,297 positive cases on Thursday, the highest in the country, said health officials.

    Meanwhile, health authorities in Pune district confirmed that 12 deaths had been recorded on Wednesday, which takes the district’s death toll to 20 and the State’s to 82 despite the State health authorities including only two of these deaths in their medical bulletin issued on Wednesday.

    The bulk of the new cases were from Mumbai, where a further 143 persons tested positive, taking the tally of cases to 857. Pune registered four more cases, taking the district’s tally to 199, while three more cases were registered from Aurangabad district.

    One case each was reported from Thane, Vasai-Virar and Mira-Bhayander, as well Sindhudurg and Yavatmal districts.

    Akola district in Vidarbha registered its first case, while one new case was reported from Buldhana district.

    With Pune district registering nearly 40 new cases on Wednesday, the city’s Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) at Gultekdi will remain shut indefinitely till further notice from Friday onwards, said APMC administrator B.G. Deshmukh.

    Masks compulsory

    On Wednesday, Pune District Collector Naval Kishore had made the wearing of masks compulsory for citizens and government officials alike in Pune district as well.

    This is the highest single-day spike in the number of deaths recorded from Pune, which also reported as many as 38 new cases today. More than 170 of the total number of cases were from urban and rural Pune, and the remaining 21 being from Pimpri-Chinchwad.

    The district has recorded more than 120 new cases and 13 deaths over a five-day period prompting authorities to completely seal off the eastern part of the city which includes a wide swathe from the RTO to Gultekdi.

    In a bid to sternly enforce the stringent lockdown measures, hundreds of police personnel led by senior police authorities took out a ‘route march’ on Wednesday take to task any errant citizen moving about within the cordoned-off zones.

    Similarly, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, too, has decided to seal-off four areas in the township beginning Wednesday.

    Till date, a total 117 persons have been discharged while more than 4,400 persons had been placed in institutional quarantine facilities across the State.

    According to health officials, at least 25 persons among the 1,300-odd people who had attended the Nizamuddin Tablighi Jamaat conclave have tested positive so far.

  • Clerical error led to release of COVID-19 positive patient, says Health Department in Villupuram

    The 30-year-old patient from Delhi was sent from Villupuram Government Hospital to a private quarantine facility from where he went missing, after his test result was erroneously marked negative

    S. Prasad | PTI

    A day after the COVID-19 test results of a Delhi-based man came back positive after he was released from quarantine from the Villupuram Government Hospital, Health Department authorities in Villupuram claimed that a ‘clerical error’ had led to the incident.

    Highly placed sources in the Health Department, on condition of anonymity, said the patient, aged 30 years had come to Puducherry to attend an interview last month, after which he reached Villupuram. He was staying in a facility operated by the Villupuram Red Cross when he developed fever and was admitted to the Villupuram Government Hospital on April 6

    “The treatment protocol for COVID-19 testing was followed and the throat swabs of the patient along with test samples of others were sent to the Villupuram Government Medical College and Hospital (VGMCH) at Mundiyambakkam here for testing the same day.

    “While the test results of three other patients were positive, the results of the Delhi man were pending and inconclusive. As per protocol, patients who test negative should be sent to a facility or home quarantine while the second round of confirmatory tests have to be taken for tests which are inconclusive or pending,” an official said.

    The staff at the VGMCH, while entering the results in the report, had made a clerical error and entered his test results as negative. This error contributed to the whole confusion following which the authorities in the GH decided to discharge the patient.

    The man was taken in a 108 ambulance to the facility quarantine operated by the Red Cross, from where he went missing.

    Health Department officials said that that a minimum of 15 to 20 samples were sent every day to VGMCH. “The Department has requested the staff in VGMCH to be more cautious to prevent such incidents,” an official said.

    Meanwhile, the Villupuram district police have constituted seven special teams and intensified surveillance across the district to trace the man.

  • No objection to Europe sending medical supplies to Iran, says Trump

    Iran has become one of the world’s coronavirus epicenters, with more than 60,000 people infected and over 3,800 deaths.

    PTI

    The U.S. has no objection to Europe sending medical supplies to Iran, which has been badly hit by the deadly coronavirus, President Donald Trump has said.

    The Trump administration has imposed one of the toughest economic sanctions on Iran alleging that it is going ahead with its nuclear ambition and it is supporting terrorist organisations to destabilise the Middle east.

    “They (Europeans) are sending medical goods to Iran. That doesn’t bother me,” Mr. Trump told reporters during a White House news conference.

    Iran has become one of the world’s coronavirus epicenters, with more than 60,000 people infected and over 3,800 deaths.

    Mr. Trump was responding to a question on the call made by French President Emanuel Macron to his Iranian counterpart that Europe has started to ship the medical goods to Iran.

    “Medical good?… That doesn’t bother me,” Mr. Trump said.

    Earlier, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters that the U.S. has offered humanitarian assistance to Iran.

    “I regret that they chose not to take that. I’ve heard people talking about sanctions,” he said.

    “The world should note there are no sanctions that prevent humanitarian assistance, pharmaceutical medical supplies, pharmaceuticals from going to Iran. We offered American assistance; we try to help other countries get assistance in there as well. We had some ability to do that,” Mr. Pompeo said.

    On March 30, the UK, Germany and France circumvented Iran sanctions by using Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges for the first time to send medical goods to Iran in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Iran has the sixth highest number of fatalities after Italy, Spain, the U.S., France and the UK.

    In March, Iran became the first major COVID-19 hotspot outside Asia. It has now suffered more deaths than China, where the outbreak originated.

  • Gurugram unit of U.S. based firm sacks several employees

    Company refuses to give reasons for move; staff of its Pune unit also laid off

    Ashok Kumar

    At least a hundred employees have been terminated by Fareportal, a New York-based global tech travel firm, in Gurugram amid the COVID-19 outbreak, without assigning any reason. The company laid off employees at its Pune firm as well.

    Many of those laid off had been working with the company for five to 10 years. Though there was no exact numbers, the sacked employees claimed that more than 800 people were laid off in total.

    The company’s Gurugram unit vice-president Vinay Kanchi disconnected the call when contacted by The Hindu to seek his reaction. He also did not respond to a text message also in this regard.

    ‘Illegal” termination
    The All India Central Council of Trade Unions has written to Haryana Chief Minister on the complaints received by them about the “illegal” termination of the employees in Fareportal.

    In its letter, the union said that it was a gross violation of all the laws, and dealt a heavy blow to the employees during the COVID-19 outbreak. Seeking necessary action, the letter further said that the governments had asked the employers to refrain from termination of employees and this act of the company further aggravated the chaotic situation.

    The union also wrote a similar letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister and the Minister of State (Independent Charge) Labour and Employment.

    Raju Prasad, a ticketing executive, working with the company for the past four years said that he and many of his colleagues received their termination letters through e-mail.

    Left in the lurch
    “In terms of the ‘termination’ clause of the Appointment Letter, company hereby, terminates your employment”, read the letter, without assigning any reason.

    He said that he was staying on rent in Delhi and had a family of three to support, including his ailing mother, and the sudden termination had left him in the lurch. “How will I pay rent for this month,” asked Mr. Prasad. He claimed that he was in contact with 134 colleagues, who had been sacked.

    “Many of those sacked had been working with the company for several years. A few of them were employed for more than 10 years,” said Mr. Prasad. He said that it was difficult for them to get a job in the current situation.

    He said the number of sacked employees in Gurugram alone could be around 500 and the same number of people were believed to have been sacked in Pune.

    Mr. Prasad said the management people did not respond to their repeated calls to ascertain the reason for sudden retrenchment.

  • Kashmiri Dies Of COVID-19 In UK, Doctor Son Appeals All To Stay Indoors

    Srinagar, April 9: A retired government employee from Kashmir who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus has died in Kent in the UK.

    The retired employee of the Sales Tax Department, originally a resident of Solina and at present Jeelan Abad Peerbagh Srinagar had tested positive for the dreaded disease and lost the battle for life after 12 days at a hospital in the UK.

    Dr. Zia Rasool Bhat (Dental Surgeon) told Global News Service (GNS) over the phone that his father, now deceased, and mother traveled in November last to the UK where two of their sons are settled.

    “My two brothers, both doctors, are settled there. He along with mother reached there on 27 November last year. My brother had contracted the disease and it got transmitted to my father as well as my mother but unfortunately, my father could not survive as he died yesterday,” he said, adding, “He was buried as per his will there. After completing the formalities, the burial took place today.” He also informed that his mother and brother have recovered.

    Dr. Zia also appealed people to pray for the departed soul and urged all to take all precautionary measures by staying indoors, religiously following hygiene measures as advised by the authorities.

    “It is a deadly disease and has no cure. One can imagine the dangerousness of the disease from the fact that Europeans and other big countries are struggling against it not to speak of India or Kashmir. Save your own being, kids, and kin by staying indoors,” Dr. Zia said.

    Meanwhile, Dr. Javid Qanungo, Secretary Indian Dental Association, J&K, expressed grief over the demise and extended condolence to the bereaved colleague and his family on behalf of the entire Association. “We stand by with our colleague in this hour of grief and may the departed soul rest in peace. Also, pray Almighty Allah to give courage to the bereaved family to bear the loss.” (GNS)

  • Brazilian President invokes Ramayana while seeking hydroxychloroquine from India

    India has partially lifted a ban on export of hydroxychloroquine, cited by many as a viable therapeutic solution to fight coronavirus infection. India is supplying the drug to the US and several other countries hit by the pandemic.

    PTI

    In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking supply of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro invoked ancient Indian epic Ramayana, mentioning the story of how Hanuman brought a holy medicine from the Himalayas to save the life of Lakshmana.

    India has partially lifted a ban on export of hydroxychloroquine, cited by many as a viable therapeutic solution to fight coronavirus infection. India is supplying the drug to the U.S. and several other countries hit by the pandemic.

    Brazil, the largest country in Latin America, has recorded close to 14,000 coronavirus cases and over 660 deaths due to the disease. Globally, the virus has killed over 75,000 people and infected more than 13 lakh.

    Besides the Ramayana, the Brazilian leader also referred to Jesus Christ, while exuding confidence that the two countries will overcome the global crisis by joining hands.

    “Just as Lord Hanuman brought the holy medicine from the Himalayas to save the life of Lord Rama’s brother Lakshmana, and Jesus healed those who were sick and restored the sight to Bartimeu, India and Brazil will overcome this global crisis by joining forces and sharing blessings for the sake of all peoples,” Bolsonaro said in the letter on Tuesday.

    According to the Ramayana, Hanuman brought ‘Sanjeevani Booti’ from the Himalayas to save Rama’s brother Lakshmana after he was injured in a battle in Lanka

    Mr. Bolsonaro said Brazil hopes that use of the hydroxychloroquine will help in treatment of the virus infected people in his country.

    “Like many other countries, Brazil places hope in the use of hydroxychloroquine as an effective means to treat patients who have contracted COVID-19,” the Brazilian leader wrote in the letter.

    On March 25, India banned export of hydroxychloroquine in the midst of views in some quarters that the drug could be used to fight COVID-19. India is the largest exporter of the drug. The ban was partially lifted on Tuesday.

    In the letter, Mr. Bolsonaro requested Mr. Modi to ensure that Brazil gets supply of the drug ordered prior to imposition of the ban on it.

    He mentioned that two Brazilian laboratories, EMS and Apsen, import inputs for the production of hydroxychloroquine in Brazil and the country’s internal supply of the drug depends on the production by the two firms, adding the imports have been mainly from India for more than 10 years

    “It is for this reason that we would like to stress, once again, the importance of the authorization for export of the cargos belonging to these two laboratories, which relate to orders placed prior to the imposition of restrictions,” he said.

    The Brazilian president said the two companies are closely following the results of studies regarding the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine to fight COVID-19 cases.

    “The companies need the inputs to manufacture the medicines not only for COVID-19 patients, but also for those suffering of chronic diseases that are normally treated with the same substance,” he said.

    The Brazilian leader also referred to the partnership between the two countries in the pharmaceutical sector, adding leading Brazilian pharmaceutical laboratories have a “solid and long” partnership with Indian laboratories.

    Mr. Bolsonaro also said he was convinced that joint efforts by India and Brazil will help both the countries in overcoming these “strenuous moments“.

    “Brazil and India enjoy a long and friendly relation of great importance to both nations, sharing many similarities and complementarities,” he said.

    “Without doubt we can refer to India and Brazil as leaders of their respective regions, always acting responsibly towards their neighbours. Our coming together is therefore fundamental to fight this pandemic,” he added.

    Mr. Modi and Mr. Bolsonaro had a telephonic conversation on Saturday during which they discussed ways of cooperation in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

  • SC issues notice to J&K Govt on plea seeking restoration of 4G internet

    Srinagar, Apr 09: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday issued a notice to Jammu and Kashmir government on a plea seeking restoration of 4G internet services in the Union Territory.

    According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a three-judge bench of Justice N V Ramana, Justice R Subhash Reddy and B R Gavai issued notice to J&K government’s standing counsel through e-mail. The notice is returnable within one week—(KNO)