Assamese TV serial banned after saffron groups allege ‘love jihad’ promotion

News Network

August 29, 2020

Guwahati, Aug 29: A television serial was banned here following protests by right-wing groups, alleging that it promoted "love jihad" and denigrated Hindu and the Assamese culture, officials said on Saturday.

The TV serial, 'Begum Jaan', was banned for two months on the recommendations of the Kamrup (Metro) district-level monitoring committee, Guwahati Police Commissioner Munna Prasad Gupta said.

A prohibitory order was issued under the Cable Television Network (Regulations) Act, 1995 to suspend the telecast of the serial, he said.

Noting that several complaints were received against the serial aired by a private entertainment channel, Gupta said those were deliberated upon by the 10-member committee.

Based on the recommendations of the committee, which apprehended that there may be a breach of peace and tranquillity, the prohibitory order was issued on August 24, he said.

At the end of two months, the TV channel can appeal for a review of the order and the committee will make a fresh recommendation, the officer said.

Groups such as Hindu Jagran Manch and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti have been protesting against the serial for the last few weeks, alleging that it promoted "love jihad" and belittled the Hindu and Assamese culture. Social media campaigns against the serial were also on.

Speaking to reporters, the lead actor of the serial Preety Kongkona said, "There is no communal angle in the serial. In fact, it depicts humanity above faith.

She said the allegations of promoting "love jihad" are a figment of some peoples imagination.

The serial is about a Hindu woman being caught in a difficult situation and is helped by a Muslim man. However, a rumour was spread that her character Janmoni eloped with the Muslim man," she said.

The private channel started broadcasting the serial in July.

Kongkona alleged that she was trolled and bullied on social media and even received rape threats, following which she lodged a complaint with the police.

Police said they are looking into these allegations.

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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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