Guwahati, Assam police has busted a fake currency racket and arrested five persons involved in the racket. The police seized fake Indian currency notes and equipment suspected to be used in producing
fake currency notes. The five persons were arrested during two separate operations carried out at Darang district in lower Assam.
The police team also seized fake Indian currency notes of the face value of Rs 17,500 of Rs 500 denomination, genuine Indian currency notes worth Rs 13,410 along with a printer and a bundle of blank papers from the possession of the arrested people. (Agency)
Assam police busts fake currency racket; arrests five
A first ever non-Muslim non-Malappuram Minister handling the Minority Affairs, as CM puts the portfolio in his kitty
UNI
Malappuram: In an unprecedented move, overriding an earlier decision in its regard, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has made a paradigm shift in the customary practice of handling the portfolio of Minority Affairs by the Minister belonging to the Muslim community and belonging to the Malappuram district. Taking a historic diversion from the routine mode, the Chief Minister has retained the portfolio of the Minorities Welfare Department. It was a Muslim Minister with both the UDF and LDF who dealt the portfolio in the past since its constitution. Came into being in 2008, the Minority Welfare Department is the nodal agency for implementing both central and state schemes and projects aimed at the welfare of the minorities in Kerala. The various agencies which come under the department included Kerala State Minority Commission, Kerala State Minority Development Finance Corporation, Madrassa Teachers Welfare Fund and Coaching Centre for Minority Youth. The department implements various projects and development programmes for the welfare of minority communities like Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains and Parsis in the State.
The portfolio has been handled by Ministers belonging to the Muslim community but never a Christian. It was Paloli Muhammed kutty in Achuthanandan Ministry, Manjalamkuzhi Ali in Oommen Chandy Government and lastly K T Jaleel in the first Pinarayi Government. All the three Ministers also belonged to the Muslim-dominated district of Malappuram.
But what forced the Chief Minister to decide differently from what was proposed and reported in the media earlier is obviously a shrewd political move. The portfolio was reported to have been given to V Abdurahiman, who also handles Pravasi Affairs and Sports. Even the Marxist mouthpiece among other newspapers had reported this. But the decision by the Chief Minister was a quick turn around. Presumably, it should be to appease the Christian community who had since been putting pressure for retaining the portfolio with the Chief Minister.
According to the 2011 census, the Christians in Kerala account for only 18 percent. The count of Muslims is 27 percent and the Hindus 55 percent. However, Christian organisations were complaining of flowing of major chunk of funds into the Muslim community. There have been complaints from Christian leadership on discrimination in distribution of minority welfare scholarships. They even alleged nepotism and misuse of power by Ministers who handled the portfolio. Some Christian organizations have demanded that the portfolio be handled by the Chief Minister.
However, the decision of the Chief Minister has evoked criticism from the Muslim orgnaisations and the Muslim League. They questioned the decision by the Chief Minister to retain the portfolio. However, the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC), a powerful Christian organization in Kerala, hailed the decision. Pinarayi Vijayan had on Friday ridiculed the League saying it was not the League to decide things in the LDF Government. Pinarayi also clarified that the Minorities is not just the Muslim community but includes Christians also. He said the decision to handle the portfolio by the Chief Minister has been welcomed by all sections. The CPI(M) has also come out with its support to the decision of the Chief Minister. The Government wants to gain the support of the predominantly pro-UDF Christian organizations. They also aim at resisting the closer tie between the Christian community and the BJP. It appears that the Chief Minister and the Marxist party are aiming to kill two birds with one stone.
CM should recommend CBI probe into death of Rupa Tirkey demands Babulal Marandi
Ranchi: Former Chief Minister and leader of the legislature wing of BJP Babulal Marandi has demanded the state government to order a CBI probe into the death of Sub Inspector Rupa Tirkey. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here he said that a movement is on in the state demanding for a CBI probe into the death of Rupa Tirkey.
Further in the fir which has been registered by the mother of the deceased name of three people have been included including that of JMM Secretary Pankaj Mishra who is also the MLA representative of the Chief Minister. He said that on a surprising note no action has been taken on the fir of the mother but later the SP issues a release mentioning that Pramod Kumar Mishra has been taken.
Babulal alleged that Pankaj Mishra was operating as a gang in the Santhal Pargana region over the issue. He further claimed that when senior officials of the police are trying to scare the family members of Rupa Tirkey state government fails to recommend a CBI probe the BJP will approach the court over the same.
757 new Covid cases, 13 die in Manipur
Imphal: Manipur today reported 757 new Covid cases and 13 deaths. In the past twenty-four hours, 757 persons (429M, 328F) from general were confirmed as new COVIDI9 positive cases. They were from Imphal East (141), Imphal West (336), Thoubal (25), Bishnupur (54), Kakching (48), Ukhrul (3), Churachandpur (82), Chandel (5). Senapati (14), Tamenglong (9), Tengnoupal (2), Kamjong (31), Noney (2) and Kangpokpi (5). In the last 24 hours, 13 persons expired at DH Thoubal (1), DH Churachandpur (1), Raj Medicity (1), Shija Hospital (2), JNIMS (4) and RIMS (4) hospital respectively. The cumulative number of deaths was 674.
The total number of discharged persons was 652. They were from CAPF (13), Home Isolation (500), RIMS (1), JNIMS (9), RD Wing (4), LANVA (7), BB (17), NSU (12), SHRI (12), Babina Speciality Hospital (2), CCC Lamboikhongnangkhong (28), Jivan Hospital (1), RAJMED (5), Thoubal (10), Bishnupur (6), Ukhrul (13), Churachandpur (2), Tamenglong (1), Kangpokpi (8) and Jiribam (1). The cumulative number of positive cases was 43,322 (General Population — 39,603 and Central Security Personnel — 3,719). The cumulative number of recovered cases was 36,258 (General Population — 32,668 and Central Security Personnel — 3,590). The number of active cases was 6390 (General Population — 6266 and Central Security Personnel — 124).
The recovery rate was 83.69 per cent.In the last 24 hours, a total of 1366 D type Oxygen Cylinders and 504 B-type Oxygen cylinders were made available to different health institutions and health facilities of Manipur. District Hospital and Government institutions have 178D, 66B filled cylinders out of these Bishnupur (27D,0B), C h a n d e l ( 1 0 D , 4 B ) , Churachandpur (41D,5 B),Senapati (20D, 0B), Thoubal (28D,15B), Ukhrul (6D,0B), Tamenglong (7D,0B), Jiribam (20D,11B), Moreh (SD,6B), Mao(4D,6B), Kakching(0D,8B), Pherzawl (4D,5B), Noney(2D,1B) and Kamjong(3D, 1B). So far 341781 people were vaccinated. Manipur Police detained 243 lected Rs 84,000 as a fine.
UP COVID Restrictions: Corona curfew in state to continue till May 31; markets, shopping malls to remain shut
UNI
New Delhi : The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday extended the COVID-19-induced curfew imposed in the state. The coronavirus curfew, which is going to end on May 24, has been extended till 7 am on May 31. The UP government, while announcing the extension said, that the decision has been taken to stem the further growth of the coronavirus infection in the state. The government also asserted that the restrictions have given positive results and have helped in reducing the COVID-19 infection in Uttar Pradesh.
“The Uttar Pradesh government is committed to safeguarding the life and livelihood of people of the state. Keeping this in mind, the policy of partial coronavirus curfew was adopted. In this regard, a decision has been taken to extend the partial coronavirus curfew in the state till 7 am on May 31”, the statement said, adding that the measure gave positive results. The government order further stated that Coronavirus vaccination drive, industrial activities and other essential services and the activities already p[ermitted in the previous order will continue during the period from May 24 to 7 am on May 31.
As per the guidelines released by the state government, all public, social, political and educational gatherings will remain prohibited in the state. All weekly markets, shopping malls, religious places, restaurants and eateries will also stay shut till May 31. However, government and private offices can operate with 50 per cent of their staff. E-commerce, other industrial activities will also remain permitted. Meanwhile, active COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh have also dropped below 1 lakh on Saturday and settled at 94,482. The infection tally in the state mounted to 16,65,176 with 6,046 fresh cases, while 226 more fatalities pushed the death toll to 18,978.
In the past 24 hours, 17,540 COVID-19 patients have recovered from the disease, taking the total number of cured persons in the state to 15,51,716. Additional Chief Secretary (health) Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters that the recovery percentage of the state is over 93 per cent. The number of active COVID-19 cases in the state stands at 94,482. On April 30, there were over 3.10 lakh active cases in UP, Kumar said.
Corona curfew extended for another week in UP till May 31
UNI
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh government in order to break further chain of Covid 19 has decided extend the corona curfew in the state for another week uptill May 31. The corona curfew in the state has been extended till 0700 hours of May 31, said UP government additional chief secretary information Navneet Sehgal here. essential services like vaccination, industrial activities, medical work etc. will continue unchanged during the partial curfew” Mr Sehgal said.
He said though the positivity rate of Covid was receding along with number of active cases in the state but corona curfew was required for controlling it further. UP government had already decided to provide Rs 1000 to registered street venders, rickshaw pullers and other people along with free ration for 3 months to the ration card holders.
COVID-19 vaccination for 18+ category halted in Delhi as vaccine stocks run out: Kejriwal
UNI
New Delhi, May 22 (UNI) Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday an nounced that Delhi is halting COVID-19 vaccination for 18-44 age group from today as the existing vaccine dos es have been exhausted.
‘As the stock of vaccine for this age group is over, we have to close their vac cination centres from today,’ Mr Kejriwal said while ad dressing a digital press con ference. Only few doses of vaccines are left and they will be administered by this eve ning at some centres, the Delhi Chief Minister said.
From tomorrow, all the vaccination centres for the 18-44 age group will be shut as there is no vaccines left for this age group,’ he said. He said the Delhi gov ernment has asked for more vaccines from the Centre. ‘As soon as we get the vaccines, we will reopen these vaccination centres,’ Mr Kejriwal said.
COVID-19 situation in India improving with massive decline in positivity rate, daily and active cases: Govt
Amit Kumar Gaur
New Delhi: Prime In a relief to India which was reeling under the cascading effect of the second wave of COVID-19, the Union Health Ministry on Saturday informed that the positivity rate in the country has witnessed a massive decline in the last 11 days with the positivity rate dropping from 24.83 per cent on May 10 to 12.45 per cent on May 22.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Niti Aayog member (health) VK Paul said that though there has been an overall decline in case burden, the positivity rate is still over 10 per cent in 382 districts. However, VK Paul asserted that the pandemic is stabilising in a major part of the country with a downward trend in positivity rate and active cases. “Pandemic is stabilising in a major part of the country. Positivity rate is going down and active cases are going down” VK Paul said Paul also said that children can spread the coronavirus but they almost always have a mild infection and mortality is very very low in them. Meanwhile, addressing the same press briefing Health Secratory Lav Agarwal said that eight states in the country have more than 1 lakh active cases while 18 states have over 15 per cent positivity rate. He also said that 6 states — Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, UP, Punjab and Delhi — are reporting a higher number of daily deaths. “There are only 7 states that are reporting more than 10,000 cases & 6 states with 5,000-10,000 cases. 6 states are reporting a high number of deaths. These are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, UP, Punjab and Delhi”, Lav Agarwal said, adding that “there are more than 93 districts where declining case positivity is being noted”.
On vaccine wastage, the ministry said Covishield wastage has reduced from 8 per cent on March 1 to 1 per cent now, while Covaxin wastage decreased from 17 per cent to 4 per cent in the same period. On the vaccine passport issue, Agarwal said there has been no consensus yet on the matter at the World Health Organisation level, but discussions are going on.“So far there’s no consensus at the level of WHO over this. Discussion still being done if vaccinated people will be allowed. As of now, as per WHO guidelines and guidelines by countries, people with negative COVID test report being allowed”, Agarwal said. The daily rise in coronavirus cases in India remained below the 3-lakh mark for the sixth consecutive day, with 2.57 lakh new cases recorded in a single day. With the fresh cases, India’s tally of COVID-19 cases climbed to 2,62,89,290. The death toll due to the disease rose to 2,95,525 with 4,194 fresh fatalities. The active cases further reduced to 29,23,400 comprising 11.12 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate improved to 87.76 per cent.
Corona peak has yet not crossed says Chief Minister
Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday said that the peak of Coronavirus is yet not over. The Chief Minister on his social media page wrote that as long as a single Jharkhandi is dying the peak is still there, the danger is prevailing and it is neither the time to become happy or sit back and relax. He said that the recovery rate in the state has gone beyond 90 per cent and for the last few days the infection rate is around 4 per cent. He said that these figures are encouraging for the state for which the healthcare staff and each person involved in the battle against Coronavirus and people of the state needed to be congratulated.
The Chief Minister said that now the government has accorded focus on increasing the testing, tracking and treatment in rural areas. He said that as part of preparations for the third phase apart from necessary steps are being taken. He said that he was aware of the fact that people are facing problems due to registration for vaccines and all necessary steps are being taken to sort out the issue and soon it will be solved.
The Chief Minister requested the people not to come out of their homes without masks. He said that vaccines are being provided from the taxes paid by the people and are completely safe therefore they should come forward to take the vaccination and also encourage others to do the same.