Archives for March 2021

BENGALURU: As Covid cases are shooting up across the State, especially in Bengaluru, many IT and ITES companies are extending the work from home (WFH) option for their employees by three more months. The firms had earlier said WFH would be till March 31 and asked employees to return to work from Wednesday. But now they are sending out emails, asking staff not to visit offices, unless absolutely necessary. State Government employees too are asking for work from home option as they pointed out that they are at a higher risk, since there is no restriction on the number of people visiting government offices.

A leading IT service management firm in east Bengaluru had earlier given the WFH option till March 31, but on Monday, employees received an email saying it has been extended by three more months. A multinational investment bank and financial services company in Bengaluru which had asked its employees to return to office from Wednesday, has told them to continue to work from home. An IT major too has extended WFH till May 31 and sent the mail to its employees a couple of weeks ago. K S Viswanathan, Vice-President (Industry Initiatives), Nasscom,that most of the companies had extended work from home till June and a few till September.

WFH improved efficiency, says Nasscom vice-prez

“Though  it has been one year and one month since IT/ ITES companies started work from home, the quality of work has not suffered. IT companies continue to get new projects, recruitments are happening, and the efficiency too has gone up,” K S Viswanathan, Vice- President (Industry Initiatives), Nasscom, said. The State Government employees, too, are appealing to Chief Secretary P Ravi Kumar to allow them to work from home or allow 50 per cent of the staff to work from office as there is a spike in Covid numbers.

Over 3,000 employees work at Vidhana Soudha, Vikasa Soudha and MS Building, and every day, thousands of people visit these offices. “We have kept a basic hand sanitiser and temperature checking machine. These are not enough to find out if a person is infected with Covid. A couple of staffers have already tested positive, and one of them is from the Irrigation Department,” said Guruswamy, president, Karnataka State Secretariat Employees’ Association.

“Unlike the private sector, we cannot restrict the movement of people here,” he added. The private sector urged the government not to announce a lockdown again. “Industries are still suffering from the first lockdown and another one will be a disaster. They are sanitising the premises, asking their employees to wear masks all the time, and kept sanitisers. The government should open Covid vaccination for all, without any age limit. Industrial workers should be given priority, as they don’t have the option of working from home,” said Perikal M Sundar, president, FKCCI.

Chandrashekar Hebbar, president, Karnataka Pradesh Hotels and Restaurants Association, said that over 20 lakh people across the state, and 10 lak in Bengaluru, work in hotels, darshinis, bars, lodges and other places and free vaccination should be given to them on priority. Labour Minister Shivaram Hebbar said he will discuss it with the Chief Minister. “Work from home is not possible for the labour class and lockdown is not on the cards at present. We will discuss the best way forward next week,’’ he added.

AGARTALA: Two girls were allegedly gangraped in Tripura’s Khowai district and eight people, including a boy, were arrested in this connection, police said on Tuesday.

The two girls reached their homes at midnight and informed their family members that they were raped.

The police swung into action after the family members of the two lodged complaints, and arrested the accused, the officer said.

The girls were sent to Khowai District Hospital for medical examinations and an investigation in the case is underway, he added.

Nine fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze was brought under control.

NEW DELHI: A fire broke out on Wednesday morning in the ICU of the Safdarjung Hospital here following which 50 patients were evacuated, fire officials said.

Nine fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze was brought under control.

Around 50 patients were immediately shifted to others wards with the help of hospital staff, the officials said.

Mumbai: Police have arrested 14 people in connection with an attack on policemen by a mob of sword- wielding Sikhs in Nanded after they were denied permission to hold a public procession due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an official said on Tuesday.

The Wazirabad police in Maharashtra’s Nanded district have registered three FIRs against 64 people (who have been named in the FIRs) and other unidentified persons in connection with Monday’s incident at the Sri Hazur Sahib gurdwara, he said.

A viral video showed the sword-wielding mob barging out of the gurdwara, breaking the barricades put up by police and attacking the policemen.

Four constables were injured and six vehicles were also damaged in the violence. The condition of one of the injured policemen was serious, the official said.

The police were also trying to ascertain if anyone from the gurdwara committee had any role in the incident, he said.

“We have arrested 14 people till now on charges of attempt to murder, rioting, and under provisions of the Arms Act and other sections. Around 64 people have been named in the FIR, while search is on for others,” Deputy Inspector General of Police, Nanded Range, Nisar Tamboli told PTI.

The official on Monday said permission for the Hola Mohalla public procession was not granted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The gurdwara committee was informed and they had assured us that they would abide by our directives and hold the event inside the gurdwara premises,” he had said.

However, when the Nishan Sahib was brought at the gate around 4 pm on Monday, several participants started arguing and over 300 youth stormed out of the gate, broke the barricades and began attacking the policeman, he had said.

Nishan Sahib is a triangular saffron-colour flag furling outside a gurdwara on a steel pole covered with a saffron cloth. The flag also has an insignia called Khanda in the middle, which includes two swords and a chakra.

Hola Mohalla (Hola) is a Sikh festival that comes a day after Holi.

Unlike Holi, when people sprinkle coloured powder on each other, Hola Mohalla is an occasion for Sikhs to demonstrate their martial skills.

Nanded is an important Sikh pilgrimage centre as it is home to the sacred shrine – the Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchal Nagar Sahib.

It was here that the 10th and last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708), anointed the holy book Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru of Sikhism and spent the last 14 months of his life.

‘WILL NOT ALLOW IMPLEMENTATION OF CITIZENSHIP AMENDMENT ACT FOR ANY REASON IN KERALA’

Kasaragod: The Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that the LDF is sure to rule the state again. He said that the pro-people schemes and developmental plans enforced in the last five years had received praises from the people.

Speaking at the Press conference held at the Kasaragod City Tower meeting hall, Pinarayi Vijayan said, “In the past five years, Kerala has received global recognition for its development. During natural disasters including flooding, even in the case of COVID-19 infection in Kerala, the government has responded to the problem of people, but the opposition is not ready to debate on development. Kerala from 5 years ago must be compared with Kerala of today.  The opposition is attempting to hide the developmental progress, and is circling around controversies”, he said.

“The Central government is trying to divide people and also attempting to enforce the agenda of RSS. The Citizenship Amendment Act will not be allowed to be implemented in Kerala for any reason. Citizenship based on religion is against the fearless democracy”, the CM said.

“There is an atmosphere of fear among the minorities and commoners.  Sangh Parivar’s actions under the pretext of conversion are condemnable”, he said.

Imphal: The Manipur government issued a circular to the Deputy Commissioners of districts bordering Myanmar not to open camps to provide food and shelter to refugees fleeing the neighbouring country after the coup but withdrew it three days later to avoid potential public anger.

In the advisory issued to the DCs of Chandel, Tengoupal, Kamjong, Ukhrul and Churachandpur on March 26, Special Secretary (Home) H Gyan Prakash also asked them to stop Aadhaar enrolment exercise.

As a fallout of the events taking place in the neighbouring country, Myanmar, it is reported that the country’s nationals have been trying to enter India through the border states including Manipur, it said.

“District administration should not open any camps to provide food and shelter. The civil society organisations should also not be allowed to open any camps to provide shelter/food,” the circular, which came into public domain on Monday, said.

While advising the DCs to “politely turn away”, those trying to sneak into India, the Special Secretary wrote, in case of grievous injuries, medical attention may be provided on humanitrian considerations.

With public anger mounting in neighbouring Mizoram against attempts to thwart the entry of refugees from Myanmar, the officer issued another advisory on Monday, saying the contents of the previous letter had been “misconstrued”.

“It appears that the contents of the letter have been misconstrued and interpreted differently. The state government has been taking all humanitarian steps had recently taken all steps, including taking them to Imphal, to treat the injured Myanmarese nationals. The state government continues to provide all aid,” it said.

“In order to avoid this misunderstanding I am directed to convey the decision of the Government that it has decided to withdraw the letter dated 26.03.2021 mentioned above,” Prakash said.

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga had recently written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to provide asylum to the refugees, saying a “human catastrophe of gigantic proportions” is happening in Myanmar and innocent citizens are being killed by the military, which is supposed to protect them.

He had dubbed as “not acceptable” the Centre’s order to prevent illegal immigration from Myanmar and ensure speedy deportation of refugees.

Zoramthanga said the areas in Myanmar bordering Mizoram are inhabited by the people of Chin community who share ethnic ties and have had close contact with the people of the state even before India became Independent.

“This (MHA advisory) is not acceptable to Mizoram. I understand that there are certain foreign policy issues where India needs to proceed cautiously. However, we cannot ignore this humanitarian crisis,” Zoramthanga said in the letter.

An unspecified number of refugees also entered Manipur, including those with injuries, who were sheltered by the residents of border villages.

Anekal: In an incident that occurred on Tuesday morning, villagers near Shettahalli were attacked by a bear in Anekal Taluk. 

Residents of Shettahalli village, Shrinivas Reddy, Ramakka, Manju, and Venkataswami were attacked and wounded by the bear, it is learned. The injured are reportedly receiving treatment at a private Hospital in Anekal Town. Forest Department’s officials arrived at the site and are conducting an inquiry regarding the attack. 

Recently, a bear had escaped from the Bannerghatta Animal Centre. The Bannerghatta doctors suspect that the bear which attacked the villagers could be the same animal that escaped. The locals informed that before the attack, the bear was spotted near the Chandapur KEB region.