I've distributed 800 CDs of Kallaka Bhat's speech: Manippady

Mangalore, February 8: The Dakshina Kannada District unit of BJP Minority Morcha on Tuesday staged a demonstration in front of the DC Office here, defending RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, whose provocative speech at a Hindu Samajotsav last month had led to communal tensions in Uppinangady town and adjacent areas in Puttur taluk.

Addressing the demonstrators, Karnataka State Minority Commission Chairman Anwar Manippady said that there was not a single provocative remark against Muslims in the entire speech of Mr Bhat.

Calling himself a fan of Mr Bhat he said that he had already distributed around 800 copies of the CD of Kalladka Bhat's speech.

He also said that mass media should act responsibly instead of blaming an innocent person.

Minority Morcha leader Rahim Uchil, who is also the president of Karnataka State Beary Sahitya Academy said that Kalladka Bhat indeed warned the society against criminals. “He did not speak against Islam and Muslims. I too a Muslim and I strongly defend him”, he said.

He also said “Muslims should not forget the BJP's favours and contribution to towards their development”

District Wakf Advisory Committee Chairman Al-Haj Usman opined urged the media and people not to glorify 'trivial things'.

Sunni leader and owner of 'Madarangi' sunni magazine D I Aboobakar Karangala, S M Koya Thangal, Abdul Azeez Zahari Punacha, Fazal Asaigoli, Podimonu, Hamza Nellyadi and Miran Saheb 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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