Spouses of suspended policemen threaten indefinite hunger strike

January 3, 2012

Sullia, January 3: The better-halves of police personnel in Sullia on Monday took to the street to protest the 'unjustifiable suspension' of cops for taking action against the miscreants, as per the order of higher authorities.

The protest comes after four policemen were placed under suspension in Sullia police station, on charges of 'police atrocity against Hindu activists' in the aftermath of attack on Sullia police station by a group of miscreants belonging to Hindutva outfits.

Allegedly yielding to the political pressure, the police department has suspended Sullia Inspector Tharanath, Sub Inspector Ravi Kumar and constables Scaria and Ramesh, who had arrested the local BJP leaders for pelting stones at station.

“The police department has done injustice to its own personnel by suspending them, although the latter had arrested the miscreants as per the directions of senior police officers”, said the protesting women.

In a memorandum sent to Director General of Police through Puttur ASP Anuchet, they also threatened to launch hunger strike in front of the police station if the department failed to withdraw its 'politically motivated suspension order'

They said that although police personnel were injured when the miscreants pelted stones at the station, they had given priority to the duty instead of sleeping on hospital beds. However, the department punished them for their duty consciousness, they lamented.

Asha Ramesh, Manju Scaria, Prema Hareesh, Rashmi Devaraj, Rekha Radhakrishna, Baby Seetharam, Savitha Tharanath, Vishalakshi Sheshappa, Kalavathi Chinnappa and Theertha Umesh were among the protesters.

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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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