Students revolt against St Aloysius College for suspending protesters

Mangalore, August 19: Confusion prevailed at St Aloysius College, here as a large number of students on Friday morning staged a demonstration after the College management allegedly suspended 10 PUC students for boycotting classes to take part in demonstration in support of Anna Hazare's movement against corruption.

Anxious students led by ABVP gathered at the main entrance to the College threatening to intensify the protest if the College management took any action against any student for participating in anti-corruption demonstration.

According to the sources, the students had planned to demonstrate in support of the anti-corruption movement on Thursday, but were supposedly denied permission by the college authorities. Moreover, the protesters accused the Principal of suspending 10 students for staging demonstration in support of Anna on Thursday.

Students who participated in Friday morning's protest claimed to be agitating both in support of Mr Hazare and against the actions of the College.

However, the agitating students agreed to return to their classes after they were promised that no action will be initiated against them, said Mahesh, an ABVP leader.

The college staff denied having any knowledge about the suspension of 10 students. They said that the students were given permission to agitate on Wednesday but permission was denied for agitation the following day, which has led to this protest.

The Principal of the College declined to comment on the issue.

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No cases yet, but vigilance high: Karnataka braces for Nipah threat

News Network

February 3,2026

Bengaluru: Following reports of fresh Nipah virus (NiV) cases in West Bengal and heightened vigilance across parts of Southeast Asia, the Karnataka Health Department has placed the state on high alert and activated emergency preparedness protocols.

Health officials said enhanced surveillance measures have been initiated after two healthcare workers in Barasat, West Bengal, tested positive for the virus earlier this month. While no cases have been reported in Karnataka so far, authorities said the state’s past exposure to Nipah outbreaks and high inter-state mobility warranted preventive action.

Officials have directed district health teams to intensify monitoring, particularly at hospitals and points of entry, and to ensure early detection and isolation of suspected cases.

High Mortality Virus with Multiple Transmission Routes

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that can spread from animals to humans and has a reported fatality rate ranging between 60 and 75 per cent. Fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, are the natural reservoirs of the virus and can transmit it by contaminating food sources with saliva or urine.

Known modes of transmission include:

•   Contaminated food: Consumption of fruits partially eaten by bats or raw date-palm sap
•   Animal contact: Exposure to infected pigs or other animals
•   Human-to-human transmission: Close contact with body fluids of infected persons, particularly in healthcare settings

Symptoms and Disease Progression

The incubation period typically ranges from 4 to 14 days, though delayed onset has also been reported. Early symptoms often resemble common viral infections, making prompt clinical suspicion critical.

•   Initial symptoms: Fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, sore throat
•   Progressive symptoms: Drowsiness, disorientation, altered mental state
•   Severe stage: Seizures, neck stiffness and acute encephalitis, which can rapidly progress to coma

Public Health Advisory

The Health Department has issued precautionary guidelines urging the public to adopt risk-avoidance practices to prevent any local spillover.

Do’s
•   Wash fruits thoroughly before consumption
•   Drink boiled and cooled water
•   Use protective equipment while handling livestock
•   Maintain strict hand hygiene

Don’ts
•   Avoid fruits found on the ground or showing bite marks
•   Do not consume beverages made from raw tree sap, including toddy
•   Avoid areas with dense bat populations
•   Do not handle sick or dead animals

Preparedness Measures

Officials confirmed that isolation wards are being readied in major government hospitals and that medical staff are being sensitised to identify early warning signs.

“There is no cause for panic, but there is a need for heightened vigilance,” a senior health official said, adding that there is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Nipah, and care remains largely supportive.

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