New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has moved Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order granting default bail to lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj, who was arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case in August 2018 under the provisions of UAPA.

The high court on December 1 had said in its order that Bharadwaj, accused of being part of a conspiracy to overthrow the Union government, was entitled to bail and its denial would be in breach of her fundamental right to life and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The high court had directed that Bharadwaj, lodged in the Byculla women’s prison, be produced before the Mumbai special NIA court on December 8, and conditions of her bail and date of release be decided.

Bharadwaj is the first among 16 activists and academicians arrested in the case to have been granted default bail.

Poet-activist Varavara Rao is currently out on medical bail.

Jesuit priest Stan Swamy died in a private hospital here on July 5 this year while waiting for medical bail.

The others are all in custody as undertrials.

The high court had rejected the default bail plea filed by eight other co-accused in the case – Sudhir Dhawale, Varavara Rao, Rona Wilson, Surendra Gadling, Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira.

The case relates to alleged inflammatory speeches delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave, held at Shaniwarwada in Pune on December 31, 2017, which the police claimed triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial located on the city’s outskirts.

The Pune police had claimed the conclave was backed by Maoists. The probe in the case was later transferred to the NIA.

GUWAHATI: The Assam government on Sunday issued a new SOP, including mandatory RT-PCR test on arrival, for international travellers, amid rising number of cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the country.

The new SOP has been formulated on the basis of the protocol for international travellers prepared by the Centre, state Health Minister Keshab Mahanta said in a statement.

India reported 17 more cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 on Sunday – nine in Rajasthan capital Jaipur, seven in Maharashtra’s Pune district and a 37-year-old fully vaccinated man who arrived in Delhi from Tanzania – taking the tally to 21 in the country.

Most of those who tested positive either recently arrived from African countries or were in contact with such people.

With this, four states and the national capital have now reported cases of the potentially more contagious variant which has sparked a fresh alert across the world.

The country reported the first two cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 on Thursday in Karnataka.

Both patients are fully vaccinated.

On Saturday, a 72-year-old NRI from Gujarat and a 33-year-old man from Maharashtra’s Thane tested positive for the new strain.

All international travellers will have to undergo compulsory RT-PCR test for COVID-19 on arrival with children below five years of age having been exempted, Mahanta said.

However, if any child below five years of age coming from abroad is having symptoms for COVID-19, a test will have to be conducted, he said.

If travellers are found positive for the infection, they will have to abide by the state government protocol for the treatment of such patients, and their samples will also be sent to laboratories for genome sequencing to determine the COVID variant.

International travellers, who test negative on arrival, will compulsorily have to undergo seven-day home quarantine, the statement said.

As per the new SOP, district authorities will keep track of overseas travellers and ensure that they follow all the protocols.

It also asked those who are going out of or coming into Assam to upload a self-declaration form on “Air Suvidha” portal before the scheduled journey.

They have to submit travel details for the last 14-days and their negative RT-PCR report, not older than 72 hours.

Each passenger will also have to submit a declaration with respect to the authenticity of the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution if found otherwise.

They should also give an undertaking on the portal or to the Ministry of Civil Aviation through airlines before they are allowed to undertake the journey that they would abide by decisions of the appropriate government authority to undergo home or institutional quarantine as warranted.

Pramesh S Jain

A 13-year-old girl student of 9th standard died under mysterious circumstances after she fell from the 12th floor of her apartment in Hulimavu on Saturday night.

The deceased has been identified as Vaishnavi, daughter of Veerendra,a Civil Contractor.

The family resides in Venugopal Nagar in Hulimavu and she was studying in 9th class in a private school.

Senior police officer said that the incident took place at around 10.30pm after Vaishnavi went near the balcony attached to the drawing room after having dinner.

A few minutes later, the family heard her screaming and went to check to find that she had fallen down.

The security guard of the apartment who also heard the sound rushed to the spot and she was shifted to a nearby hospital where she was declared brought dead.

Hulimavu police inspected the spot and ruled out that it was an accidental fall.We suspect that it is a case of suicide and the reason is yet to be ascertained ” .

The police are trying to retrieve her mobile which was locked.The body was handed over to the family on Sunday after the postmortem and police are awaiting to question her family members .

The Hulimavu police have taken up a case and are probing to ascertain the cause of death said a senior officer.

(Those in distress or those having suicidal tendencies can call Arogya Sahayavani Ph: 104 for help.)

Pramesh S Jain

Taking tough measures to contain the Covid spread,Chief Minister,Basavaraj Bommai has said that,any place with 3 or more cases of the pandemic would be declared as a Cluster.Earlier the limit was 10 cases.

Speaking to media persons he said,preliminary report on Omicron cases had been received. Health department had been instructed to obtain comprehensive report and treatment protocol being followed in various countries.

According to available information at present the protocol being followed for Delta variant is being followed for Omicron too.I want a scientific system to be followed.

Expert opinion is that Omicron is a fast spreading variant,but has not shown severe implications. However instructions had been issued to intensify tracing and treatment,Bommai said.

As for Cluster Management,two types of clusters had been planned.

one for places like schools,colleges and hostels, and the other for the apartment complex in Bengaluru where cases have been reported.

Every one in the clusters would be tested and treated.Only those with double dose vaccination would be allowed to assemble together in apartment complexes.

No outsiders would be allowed into the apartment.The BBMP Commissioner had been instructed in this regard,Bommai said.

Double dose had been made mandatory for parents of the students who attend classes off-line mode,testing is compulsory for all the inmates and staff of student hostels.

Testing has been made mandatory for those with comorbidities too.Officials had been instructed to take foolproof measures,Bommai said.

Unon Minister’s statement

Replying to a question about the statement of Union Health Minister,Mansukh Mandavia that, none of the states except Punjab had submitted report on deaths caused by oxygen shortage, Bommai said,”I have no information as to in what context the statement has been made.”

Discussion with Health minister :

When asked about Health Minister,Dr Sudhakar’s statement about 10 passengers from South Africa found missing in the state,Bommai said,I have not received official information about it. I will speak to the Health Minister about it.”

Home Minister cares a lot for the Police :

Reacting to comments that Home Minister,Araga Jnanendra had hurt the sentiments of police personnel by making harsh remarks, the Chief Minister said that Jnanendra had already clarified on the issue.

His comment was only about a few specific cases,not in general.Jnanendra is the most caring Home Minister who has immense zeal for welfare of police personnel,” Bommai said.

Belagavi session

Legislature session at Belagavi would be held as scheduled with adequate precautionary measures.

The District administration had been instructed in this regard. Double dose vaccine had been made compulsory for participating in the session, he said.