Bengaluru teen who was held after father died in scuffle released on bail

Crime

The girl was held on Thursday, July 23, after her father died following a fatal injury by a pair of scissors during a scuffle that he initiated.

Sanyukta Dharmadhikari

A 15-year-old Bengaluru girl who was detained after a scuffle with her father led to his death, has been released on bail after a week’s detention. Treated as a child in conflict with the law, she had been detained at a juvenile home and was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board on Thursday, which is when she was granted bail. The girl was detained on Thursday, July 23, after her father, who was in an inebriated state, died after he was fatally injured by a pair of scissors during a scuffle. She had been booked under Section 304 of the IPC, which is culpable homicide not amounting to murder. According to a Supreme Court ruling earlier in January, charges against juveniles are considered ‘heinous or serious’ if they attract a minimum of seven years’ imprisonment. While Section 304 IPC has a maximum sentence of 10 years, it does not prescribe a minimum sentence, and hence the girl was eligible to get bail.  The girl is currently back with her family and her grandparents and uncle have flown to Bengaluru to be with her. Meanwhile, the police are still investigating the case and whether Section 100 (self-defence) can be added to the case against her. The family had earlier told TNM that the incident took place on July 22 around 11 pm, when the girl tried to tell her father, who had been drinking heavily, not to play the piano loudly as she was trying to study. Angered by her confrontation, a scuffle ensued and the father tried to hit and attack the teenager, and picked up a sharp object. The family had said that the girl had picked up a pair of scissors to defend herself, which is when the father came charging at her and the scissors are believed to have pierced him. The girl’s younger brother, who was in another room, ran out to fetch the neighbours, who later reached the spot and called the police. The family had told TNM that the father was an alcoholic and often behaved violently and was abusive since the death of his wife a few years ago. “He was very learned and intelligent. After working for 12 years at an IT major, he quit. Two years in, around 2011, his wife delivered a second child. When the baby was ten days old, the mother died. This was the turning point,” the relative had said. The relative had also narrated how he reportedly even forced his older child to drop out of school and began to home school both the kids. The neighbour who had called the police had also mentioned in her statement that the two children have “suffered enough” and that a compassionate view be taken of the events that had transpired. Also read: ‘It was self defence, he was an alcoholic’: Bengaluru teen held for father’s death

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‘Will I be OK?’: Anxiety takes over young COVID-19 patients in Bengaluru

Coronavirus

Mental health experts are advising young patients to stay away from the news, especially reports on death figures.

Soumya Chatterjee

Representational image/PTI

On July 19, Girish (name changed), a 32-year-old man residing in Bengaluru’s Whitefield area came to know that he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. According to his family members, until that point when he was informed of the result, he was fine. Even when the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike officials — after a preliminary check up — suggested that he go to a COVID Care Centre, he insisted that he will get admitted to a private hospital so that he does not develop complications. A family member said that even though Girish was fine and did not have any problems, he (Girish) said that he had suddenly developed breathing problems even though they could see him getting tense.  Girish is not alone. TNM spoke to multiple doctors in Bengaluru who said that many young men and women are anxious about the diseases after seeing media reports about increasing death tolls related to the pandemic. Dr Rajani P, Deputy Director, Mental Health, Department of Health and Family Welfare, said that many patients will be anxious about what will happen if their situation deteriorates even as they are doing fine.  “Seeing what they see and hear in the media, many young people are scared. Anxiety is at the forefront for around 20-30% patients and a lot of young people fear if the infection will relapse,” she said. She said that soon after the onset of the pandemic, the government started counselling sessions for all patients in hospitals to counter the crisis. Apart from psychiatrists and psychologists attending to patients physically, more than 2.51 lakh telephonic consultations have been made across the state till July 21, she informed. Dr Rajani said anxiety causes some patients to hyperventilate and sometimes, they will self-report breathlessness and end up in hospitals even though they are ‘completely fine’.  Dr Asima Banu, COVID-19 nodal officer at Victoria Hospital, said anxiety among patients who are doing fine on physical parameters are more prevalent among youngsters, compared to the elderly. She said even if the anxious patients are overseen by psychiatrists and psychologists as part of the treatment routine, clinicians have to address the issue to patients at an individual level. “Fear psychosis here is a reality. The phobia only is making them feel symptomatic. Even after getting discharged or at the time of getting discharged, they will call us saying ‘cough is not going down, we are facing breathlessness’ and all. So we are forced to tell them to consult their family physicians and then they will also tell the same things,” she told TNM.   Dr Venkateshaiah, medical superintendent of the KC General Hospital, a state-run medical facility, also said the occurrence of such fears is common. He said about 20% of all patients irrespective of age or gender will need extra care on this front.  “Even though clinically we can see that their blood oxygen saturation level and all other vital statistics are fine, they need assurances from time to time. We spell it out: ‘see your oxygen rate is fine, your heartbeat is fine, your respiration is alright’. In most cases, once we tell them this, they are again psychologically elevated. The moment people think about what all they might have seen on the media or heard from somewhere, they assume that they have lost their sense of smell or have breathing difficulty even if they are completely alright,” he told TNM.    Dr Girish, psychiatrist at the KC General Hospital, said the issue common with elderly patients is of taboo and stigma. “They fear if their family, neighbours will take them back as before,” he said. “The young people will have apprehensions such as ‘will I survive?’. So we try to reason with them with facts about how their condition is gradually improving since the time they were admitted,” he said. The psychiatrist said they would reason with the patients about how mortality rate is very low at the state or city level or how most patients are doing fine at the hospital and being discharged after a few days. He said he advises patients not to stress too much on news and watch comedy and light content on their phones. Such patients are also asked to follow certain breathing techniques and meditate. “We advise them not to watch news as there is too much focus on death numbers,” said Dr Girish.

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No more Sunday lockdown, night curfews in Karnataka from August 1

Coronavirus

In view of the rising coronavirus cases, the government had imposed total lockdown on Sundays starting from July 5.

PTI

Representational image/PTI

Sunday lockdowns will no longer take place in the state from August 2, the Karnataka government said on Thursday. Night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am, which restricts individuals from movement, has also been removed under the new rules that will come into effect from August.  The announcement came as the state government decided on further easing of COVID-19 induced curbs, as it issued Unlock 3.0 guidelines in line with the Centre's norms. In view of the rising coronavirus cases, the government had imposed total lockdown on Sundays starting from July 5. For the first time since the coronavirus lockdown came into force on March 25, the government allowed the opening of yoga institutes and gymnasiums from August 5. According to the order, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for this will be issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka. The guidelines will come into force from August 1 and strict enforcement of lockdown in containment zones will continue till August 31. Schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutions will remain closed till August 31. However, online or distance learning shall continue to be permitted and shall be encouraged. The prohibited activities include metro rail services, cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places. Social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and other large congregations will also continue to be prohibited till August 31. All activities, except these, shall be permitted outside the containment zones, the order said. Dates for the opening of these sectors will be decided separately, by the Government of India and necessary SOPs shall be issued by ministries concerned for ensuring social distancing and to contain the spread of COVID-19, it added. Independence day functions at State, Districts, Sub-Divisions, Taluks, Municipal and Panchayat levels and 'At Home' functions, wherever held, will be allowed with social distancing and by following other health protocols such as wearing masks.

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K-CET 2020: 57 students infected with coronavirus write exam in separate rooms

CET

Students infected with the virus were picked up in ambulances from their homes, hospitals, COVID-Care Centres and were allowed to write the exams in designated COVID-Care Centres.

TNM Staff

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister Ashwath Narayan, dressed in personal protective equipment (PPE), visited the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (K-CET) centres on Thursday where students who tested positive for the coronavirus were allowed to write the examination. They were seated in a separate room.  While 60 COVID-19 patients had registered for the examinations, 49 appeared for the Biology examination and 57 appeared for the Mathematics examination.  In all, 1.94 lakh students registered for the examinations being held on July 30 and 31. Around 1.47 lakh students wrote the Biology examination on Thursday morning, while 1.73 lakh students wrote the Mathematics exam on the same evening.  The entrance examination for professional courses in engineering, agriculture among others was held on Thursday after the Karnataka High Court rejected a plea asking for the examinations to be deferred. Minister Ashwath Narayan said that as many as 60 students infected with the coronavirus had registered for Thursday's Mathematics and Biology examinations. Of the 60 students, 49 students appeared for the Biology examination and 57 students appeared for the Mathematics examination.  The Karnataka government arranged transportation and food facilities for students infected with the coronavirus who were writing the examination. In the Biology examination conducted on Thursday morning, 15 students infected with the virus wrote the examinations: five in Bengaluru, five in Mysuru and five in Ballari. Students infected with the virus were picked up in ambulances from their homes, hospitals, COVID-Care Centres and were allowed to write the exams in designated COVID-Care Centres. 75% of the students who registered appeared for the Biology examination and 89% of the students registered appeared for the Mathematics examination. The attendance numbers were slightly lower than in 2019 when 79% of the students appeared for the Biology examination and 91% of the students appeared for the Mathematics examination. The tests were conducted in 497 examination centres across Karnataka. Over 42,000 students registered for the examination in Bengaluru and 21,367 appeared for the Biology examination and 34,333 appeared for the Mathematics examination in various exam centres on Thursday.  The Physics and Chemistry examinations will be conducted on Friday.  Earlier this week, the Karnataka High Court had asked the state government to reconsider its decision to hold the examinations due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in the state. But the counsel appearing for the government in the High Court confirmed in a submission that the state government would hold the examinations as per the schedule.  The High Court was hearing a petition filed by students asking for the examinations to be deferred. The National Students Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Indian National Congress, had also attached itself to the petition. Karnataka currently has 69,700 active COVID-19 cases after the state reported 6,128 new cases on Thursday. 

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Despite lockdown, traffic accidents and deaths see no major dip in Bengaluru

Accident

Authorities said that they had seen an increase in instances of rash driving and overspeeding as roads remain relatively empty.

Soumya Chatterjee

Long periods of lockdown, put in place as a measure to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus between mid-March and May in Bengaluru, has not resulted in any drastic reduction of road accidents or fatalities, data available with authorities shows. As per the data, till June-end, a total of 309 persons have been killed in road accidents in 2020. The death toll for 2019, 2018 and 2017 were 766, 684 and 642 respectively for the entire year.   The same trend can be observed for injuries too. Till June 30, 2020, the number of injured people is at 1,396 while the same for the last three years was 4,253, 4,133 and 4,256 respectively for the entire year.   According to officials, while there is no major dip in the overall fatality or number of accidents, the accidents involving two wheelers stand out during the lockdown period. A total of 44 persons have been killed in road accidents involving two-wheelers alone within the Bengaluru Police Commissionerate limits till June-end, from when the nationwide lockdown was put in place in March. Another 159 persons have been injured in accidents involving two-wheelers in the same period. A total of 166 accidents were recorded. Traffic police officials said that the high number of accidents and related fatalities are mainly due to riders not following traffic rules, and increased instances of overspeeding on empty roads during the lockdown period. Speaking to TNM,  Joint Commissioner, Traffic, BR Ravikanthe Gowda said, “We have reduced contact enforcement in the wake of the pandemic and we are only relying on non-contact means. But people are taking things for granted. If you look at most of these cases, they are due to the negligence of the rider; even those involving fatalities. Rash and negligent driving has increased. This shows the need for enforcement of traffic rules in the city.”  Traffic Police inspectors said that due to lack of enforcement on the gound, the number of people following traffic rules like wearing helmets, maintaining lane discipline and obeying traffic signals have decreased, which have led to a majority of the accidents. TNM had reported on June 21, how three youngsters had lost their lives after two bikes collided near the Jakkur Airfield as they were trying a stunt. More recently, the police had seized a 1,000 cc bike after videos of the rider overspeeding on the Electronic City Flyover during the lockdown went viral. Bengaluru Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime, Sandeep Patil, had said that the Traffic Police in Electronic City had registered a case against the rider who had posted other videos of him violating the speed limit on multiple occasions in the city.

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Kumaraswamy accuses Congress leaders of not allowing Kharge to become CM in 2018

Politics

Sources tell TNM that former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will remain mum on this issue and has instructed his social media team to not tweet any reaction in this regard.

Pooja Prasanna

Sharpening his attack on the Congress, former Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy dropped a political bombshell on Wednesday. In a statement released, Kumaraswamy said the Congress leaders opposed making senior leader Mallikharjuna Kharge as the Chief Minister when talks of an alliance was on between the JD(S) and Congress after the 2018 Assembly elections.  'When there was a hung Assembly, former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, in the presence of senior national and State leaders, suggested to make Kharge the CM. It was Congress leaders who prevented Kharge from becoming the CM. The JD(S) though was not keen, the Congress party high command and the State leaders kowtowed requesting to me take the CM's post. After this, you started driving from the backseat and dictating terms and exerting pressure. Where was your morality then?(sic)’ read the statement. The JD(S) leader, further accused the Congress leaders of the state of using only social media to attack, cowering to come forward and indulge in a face-off with him. ‘Unable to question me directly, the so called bigwigs of the party have taken shelter behind the Congress' official twitter handle @INCKarnataka.’ The war of words began in the backdrop of Congress’ 'Save Democracy campaign', a campaign against the BJP for allegedly trying to grab power in Rajasthan. While the Congress leaders in Karnataka had accused the BJP of horse-trading of legislators in the Rajasthan context to which Kumaraswamy hit out saying that the Congress had invented the game and the BJP was just taking it forward. The Congress hit back, questioning why he found the party palatable when he wanted to come to power in Karnataka.  Meanwhile these outbursts are being seen as an attempt to stay politically relevant but most essentially, safeguard the Vokkaliga vote base in southern Karnataka. After DK Shivakumar has been made the Karnataka Congress president, there is a sense of insecurity in the JD(S) first family that their influence over the second largest caste vote bank might be threatened and with that the family’s and the party’s future imperiled, sources claimed. Vokkaligas form the second dominant caste base, after Lingayats, in Karnataka.   Congress party sources tell TNM that their leaders have been instructed to not react to this provocation by their former ally. Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in particular, has even instructed his social media team to not tweet any reaction in this regard. Responding to this instigation, sources say the Congress believes, will only give political mileage to JD(S) which has seen its influence dwindling.  In 2018, after the Assembly polls resulted in a hung assembly, the Congress and JD(S) formed an alliance in Karnataka, with HD Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister and G Parameshwara from Congress as the Deputy Chief Minister. 

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Bengaluru’s positivity rate at 17%, more COVID-19 testing needed: Experts

Coronavirus

Bengaluru has tested on average 8745 samples per day between July 22 and July 28.

Prajwal Bhat

PTI : Image for representation

Bengaluru has recorded a total of 51091 coronavirus cases, as of July 29 with 91% of COVID-19 patients being diagnosed this month alone. Presently, the city has 36224 active cases. However, even as Karnataka’s capital city has emerged as a hotspot, the question is - are health officials in the city testing enough people for coronavirus?  The question arises due to a high positivity rate observed in Bengaluru - 17.19% as of July 28. However, an analysis of data over the past week shows that city’s testing has fluctuated considerably over the past week. On average, 8745 samples were tested everyday (July 22-28) in Bengaluru in the past week and the city has reported on average 1982 positive cases per day in this period.    An analysis of the data shared by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) COVID-19 War Room showed that testing numbers in Bengaluru dipped from 9697 on July 25 to 5930 on July 26 before reporting increased testing numbers of 10176 on July 27 and 9773 on July 28. This resulted in the positivity rate jumping from 20.9% on July 25?to 32.8% the next day. Bengaluru, however, saw it’s positivity rate drop to 14.4% and 19.4% over the next two days.That means the positivity rate in Bengaluru for the past week is 22.66% - five percentage points higher than the cumulative figure.   On four days in the past week, the positivity rate was over 25% in the city.  The positivity rate was the highest on July 26 when the rate was 32.8%.    The positivity rate on July 19, a week prior to that was at its peak at 45%. Only 4703 samples were tested on the day and the city reported 2156 COVID-19 cases. While the testing numbers were increased after July 19, the ratio of positive cases in relation to number of samples is significantly high in Bengaluru. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) plans to address this by increasing testing in Bengaluru and on Tuesday, the civic body announced a plan to conduct free testing in the city. “In order to control the spread of coronavirus, BBMP has arranged free testing facilities in almost every ward,” BBMP said in a statement by its Commissioner Manjunath Prasad.  “Early detection of coronavirus will help us stop its spread to others...Please do not be afraid of getting tested as majority of the people who get tested at early stages recover very fast,” the statement added. It also included the phone numbers of testing centres in different zones in the city. Experts agreed that the testing numbers in Bengaluru needed to be increased in view of the rising number of cases. Dr Giridhar Babu an epidemiologist with the Public Health Foundation of India, who is part of expert committees formed by both in state and Centre is of the opinion that testing should be five times the number of samples tested currently. He said, "We should be looking at an ideal positivity rate of 5% as recommended by the WHO. Also for testing we can't look at the numbers from a state or a city level. Rather there should be targets set on a ward basis as otherwise it would give a wrong impression that some areas are safer than others without any evidence." Dr Sanjiv Lewin, Chief of Medical Services, St John's Medical College, says that the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Bengaluru means that there is a need for more targeted testing in the city. “We should be testing everybody in communities where positive cases are found. I would suggest randomised testing in localities with COVID-19 cases. The reluctance of public to test themselves due to stigma and discrimination is something that the government should change,” Sanjiv says. He also adds that there should be blanket testing of patients in Bengaluru’s hospitals. “I would recommend mandatory testing for everyone getting hospitalised. This is when patients are hospitalised for any reason because it will help protect healthcare workers from getting exposed to the virus,” Sanjiv says.  BBMP is also grappling with issues of patients registering with fake phone numbers and addresses. The civic body has introduced an OTP mechanism to ensure that there is no room for errors in entering the data or patients giving fake contact details while giving their samples for testing.

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