Srinivasamurthy requests Congress to expel Sampath Raj after he was named as accused in Bengaluru violence

News Network

October 14, 2020

Bengaluru, Oct 13: After the Central Crime Branch named Congress leader Sampath Raj as one of the main accused in Bengaluru violence that erupted on August 11, MLA A Srinivasamurthy requested leaders to expel him from the party.

Speaking to news agency, Srinivasamurthy said, "Probe is going in the right direction. The culprit must be punished. I request party leaders to expel him from the party."

He said there is no benefit in creating violence; he could have talked to party leaders if he had any issue.

"Today I am living in another house, not in my constituency. What is the benefit of committing violence? What profit is there in keeping rivalry? He could have talked to leaders like DK Shivakumar if he had issues," Srinivasamurthy told news agency.

"I was trying to work for the constituency together and he was like a brother but I did not know that's what he was planning," he added.

August 11, there was an incident of violence in Bengaluru where police stations were attacked.

NIA investigation into it resulted in the arrest of a few key conspirators. It has come to light that the protest was not spontaneous but a conspiracy.

NIA had arrested a key conspirator, Sayed Saddiq Ali, for his involvement in the attack on KG Halli Police Station in Bengaluru that took place in the late evening of August 11, 2020.

The attack resulted in damage to public and government property, including damage to the police station building and vehicles parked in the police station premises and nearby areas.

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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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