Seemanth, Labhu Ram taken to task for errant subordinates

September 24, 2011

Mangalore, September 24: City police chief Seemanth Kumar Singh and Dakshina Kannada SP Labhu Ram came in the crosshairs of Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) which ticked them off for their failure to keep a check on errant subordinates. SHRC chairperson S R Nayak in particular was peeved at failure of city police in detecting the double murder case of a mother and daughter and a cab driver and repeated instances of moral policing here.

Chairing a public grievances hearing here on Saturday, Nayak took exception to the 'alleged' high-handed behaviour of police inspector Ravish Nayak in beating up Prem Michael Crasta at the behest of a zilla panchayat member. He instructed Seemanth to initiate action against the official. When P B DSa of PUCL complained that police were targeting innocents in the Panjimogaru double murder case, Nayak sought an explanation from Seemanth.

"We are trying our best to deal with the case," Seemanth said, adding that it was not a murder for gain. When DSa persisted that police were trying to browbeat youths into confessing their involvement in the murder, Nayak said, "I will instruct my IGP to hold a thorough probe in to the incident." Seemanth later told STOI that he had instructed DCP (Crime) M Muthuraya to submit a report into the incident of police atrocities at the earliest.

When DSa said state government despite directives from SHRC had failed to take action against heads of police units in case of instances of moral policing, and drew attention of Nayak to a recent incident at Someshwar involving Bajrang Dal cadre, Nayak admonished Seemanth. "Crack down on any such troublemakers and do not allow them to sprout on our land, known for peace, and lest the secular fabric of the nation is torn into pieces," he said.

When leaders from SC/ST organizations prodded Nayak on slow pace of investigations in to murder of Goverdhan, a dalit cab driver, and alleged that police were slow in dealing with instances of murder of Dalits, Nayak remarked: "Such apathy does not augur well for any policing unit, especially since it deals with marginalized sections of society." He asked the SP to keep tabs on his officers who harassed innocents and coerced confessions out of them.

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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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