45 new swine flu cases reported from Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow: Forty five new swine flu cases were on Sunday detected taking the figure of those affected by the disease to 614 in Uttar Pradesh where the state government has decided to increase number of beds in hospitals. “Of the 45 new cases, 37 are from Lucknow, three from Allahabad, two from Bareilly and one each from Raebareli, Meerut and Faizabad,” a Health Department official said here. With this, the number of H1N1 virus patients has surged to 614 in the state, the maximum of 505 being reported in Lucknow, where leave of all the health department officials has been cancelled, he said. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has requested the media not to create panic over swine flu and said that state government had taken all the necessary measures to check the spread of the disease. “I request you not to create panic over swine flu. We have taken all necessary measures and even announed free treatment for those suffering from the disease,” Yadav said. He also said that beds in government hospitals will be increased soon. A total of 1,561 patients were screened today out of which 614 were tested positive while 14 persons have died so far in the state. (PTI)
RSS reiterates demand to enact anti-conversion law
New Delhi: Amid the raging row over Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks on Mother Teresa, RSS on Sunday reiterated its demand for an anti-conversion law to check the “rising incidents” of religious conversions in the country. Suhasrao Hiremath, the Akhil Bharatiya Saha Seva Pramukh of RSS made the remarks at a press conference called to announce an upcoming mega event, a congregation of around 800 social service organisations affiliated to the outfit, in the capital. “The demand for an anti-conversion law to stop conversions through false promises, forceful or any other wrong means is long-standing. We have nothing against people who convert voluntarily. But considering rising incidents of such conversions, government should enact a law,” Hiremath said. Bhagwat’s remarks that conversion to Christianity was the main objective behind Mother Teresa’s service to the poor has sparked a major controversy leading to a fierce Opposition attack on the government. “Few states have such laws in place already. The present government has also raised the issue in the Parliament… It should also consider implementing the recommendations of the Niyogi Committee Report in this regard,” Hiremath added. (PTI)
Cong leader dies of swine flu
Indore: A Congress leader in Ratlam district on Sunday died of swine flu at a private hospital here. Mukesh Jain (43), hailing from Namli area in Raltam district, was admitted to the hospital in a serious condition on February 18. Two days back, he had tested positive for the H1N1 viral infection to which he succumbed this morning, Dr Manish Jain of the hospital told PTI. Mukesh was the spokesman of Ratlam district Congress committee. Since January 1 this year, 200 people tested positive for swine flu in Indore district out of which 60 have succumbed to the virus so far, said Dr Sanjay Dixit, head of the community health department at state run Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College here. (PTI)
Rains hit normal life in Rajasthan
Jaipur: Intermittent rains on Sunday affected the normal life and highway traffic in Rajasthan as Bikaner recorded the maximum rainfall of 21 mm at 0800 hrs, a MeT report said here. Moderate to heavy rains occurred in most parts of the state since last night due to an Arabina sea-borne western disturbance moving across Rajasthan, the report said. Inclement weather conditions have also revived winter conditions as people have took out warm clothes and quilts since yesterday. Due to heavy moisture in air, the night temperature also dipped by one to three degrees Celsius at many places as Phalodi recorded the lowest temperature of 11 degree Celsius. Jaipur, which has received moderate rains since last night, recorded a maximum rainfall of 10 mm till 1200 hrs and the sky was engulfed by thick clouds causing mercury to fall by one to three degrees Celsius during day. Meanwhile, Phalodi recorded a maximum rainfall of 13 mm followed by Churu 7.8, Ganganagar 4.2, Udiapur 2.4, Ajmer, Jodhpur, Pilani, Jaisalmer, Kota, Barmer in the range of 0.1 to 2 mm. Inclement weather (rainy-cold) would continue over the state in next 24 hours and would pass out by March 3 morning, a forecast said. (PTI)
Woman drugged, gangraped by five youth in UP
Muzaffarnagar: A 26-year-old woman was allegedly drugged and gangraped here by five youths, including son of a Sub-inspector, police said on Sunday. According to the complaint lodged by the victim, she had gone to a nearby gift centre yesterday where she was offered a sedative-laden cold drink by the shop’s owner. The five accused, including the owner and officials’s son, gangraped the girl in the area, SSI of Kotwali Police Station, Promod Kumar said. When she gained consciousness, they threatened her with dire consequences if she revealed the incident to anyone, he said. The accused have been identified as – Vijay Kumar, Anuj Sethi, Piyush Kumar, Sub-inspector’s son Kapil and an unidentified youth in this connection. Police registered a case against the absconding accused and the girl has been sent for medical examination. Investigation is underway in the matter and efforts are on to nab the accused, Kumar added. (PTI)
Woman accused of theft thrashed by cop, video goes viral
Jalgaon (Maha): A woman, accused of stealing jewellery of a passenger at a bus stand, was beaten up in full public view allegedly by a policeman, a video of which has gone viral. The incident took place late last month but came to light when the video got circulated on social media. The woman, aged around 35, allegedly tried to steal a gold pendant of another woman standing at the Chalisgaon bus stand in this North Maharashtra district on February 21, Chalisgaon police station in-charge Manohar Jadhav said. The victim raised an alarm following which police naik Shashikant Jagannath Mahajan, who was present there, immediately caught hold of the accused woman and allegedly thrashed her and took her to the Chalisgaon police station, he said. The woman was later let-off, he said. When asked if any action was taken against the cop, Jadhav said an inquiry was on against Mahajan, but refused to divulge any further details. (PTI)