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Birbhum SP denies reports of rape of polling agents in Bengal’s post-poll violence

OpIndia Staff
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Birbhum SP denies reports of rape of polling agents in Bengal’s post-poll violence

Note: The report has been updated with latest information.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers have unleashed carnage in West Bengal, following the party’s victory in the Vidhan Sabha polls. On Monday (May 3), the BJP informed that two of its female polling agents were gang-raped by TMC hoodlums in the Nanoor assembly constituency.

India Today reported that one of the victims of gang rape had been missing since the incident. The two female election agents were working for the Nanoor BJP candidate Tarakeswar Saha. At the same time, several female BJP workers were molested in 12 villages that fall under the Nanoor Vidhan Sabha constituency.

(Video Courtesy: Youtube/India Today)

In another incident, TMC goons belonging to the Muslim community were seen thrashing female BJP workers in broad daylight in Kendamari village in Nandigram. BJP National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya tweeted about the incident, along with a disturbing video. It could be seen that the two BJP workers were thrashed to the ground by two men. They pulled the victims by the hair while the onlookers stood as mute spectators.

The man behind the camera could be heard encouraging the accused men to continue with their assault. The women fought back, and tried to defend themselves after being assaulted in full public glare. One of the men intervened and the two victims could later be seen walking away.

TMC tries to trivialise the incidents

Following the accusations of gang-rape and mass molestation in the Birbhum district, TMC leader Derek o’ Brien tried to whitewash the incidents. While labeling the allegations as ‘rumour mongering’, he asked the West Bengal police to ascertain facts.

BJP to conduct a nationwide protest against TMC

The Trinamool Congress has gone about its way unabated in targeting the BJP workers in the state. In light of the bloodshed and unspeakable atrocities committed against its party workers, the BJP has announced a nationwide dharna on May 5.

“The BJP has announced a nationwide dharna on 5th May against the widespread violence unleashed by TMC workers post the election results in West Bengal. This protest will be held following all Covid protocols across all organisational mandals of the BJP,” the official handle of the party tweeted.

TMC goons attack BJP workers in West Bengal

On Sunday (May 2), the residence of an active BJP worker named Bishwanath Dhar was attacked by TMC goons. The incident took place in Ghola Mallikpara in Panihati municipality in the North24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Reportedly, the hoodlums first destroyed the CCTV cameras and then began looting the BJP worker’s residence. They broke open the almirah and stole cash and ornaments. On their way out, they also damaged his Maruti car and a Royal Enfield (bullet) bike.

In another incident, a BJP worker was assaulted mercilessly at his own residence allegedly by the workers of the ruling TMC. The incident took place in Kismatdapat village of Trimohini in the South Dinajpur district of West Bengal. Reportedly, TMC goons ambushed the victim’s house and attacked him. The BJP worker sustained head injuries and bled profusely. The miscreants also entered his house and vandalised the property.

On Sunday (May 2), a BJP worker named Avijit Sarkar took to Facebook to narrate the harrowing tale of violence that he was subjected to by the TMC goons. The video was uploaded just hours before he was lynched to death by the miscreants. “I don’t know how to come live (on Facebook). They hurled bombs right in front of my eyes and vandalised my house and the party office. My only mistake is that I am a BJP worker.,” he recounted. He said that the attack took place in Ward no. 30 in the Beleghata neighbourhood in Kolkata under the supervision of TMC leaders Paresh Paul and Swapan Samandar.

Update:

West Bengal Police has denied the report of BJP woman being raped and termed it fake.

West Bengal Police’s tweet

West Bengal Police shared screenshot and added a hashtag ‘fake news alert’ for the above reports.

Birbhum SP denies allegation of rape

NN Tripathi, Birbhum SP on Tuesday said that the allegations of rape are false.

He said that he spoke to local BJP leaders and they are unaware of any incident of rape and hence he said that it is fake news.

Note: Report updated as per latest information.

Alt News, Boom Live promote old videos in the name of ‘fact check’ to insinuate there is no post-poll violence in Bengal, prove netizens correct

Jinit Jain
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Alt News, Boom Live promote old videos in the name of ‘fact check’ to insinuate there is no post-poll violence in Bengal, prove netizens correct

Violence has swept West Bengal since Sunday this week after the election results confirmed a TMC victory. Several cases of violent incidents have been reported from across the state as goons and supporters of the TMC went on a rampage against their political opponents, especially against the BJP, assaulting and allegedly killing them, vandalising and ransacking their offices. Social media is replete with videos of the violence that pervaded the state in the wake of the assembly election results.

As videos of blood-curdling violence started doing the rounds on the internet, the nation’s attention was drawn towards the rampant savagery exhibited by the TMC supporters against their political rivals in West Bengal. Questions were being raised of the TMC government in the state for condoning the violence and using it as a tool to inflict retribution against their opponents.

However, no sooner did the videos of the violence in West Bengal went viral, some ‘fact checkers’ such as Alt News and Boom Live rushed to the defense of the TMC by promoting old videos of violence and thereby discrediting the reports of post-poll violence emanating from West Bengal.

Alt News promotes old videos to call into question claims of post-poll violence in West Bengal

Alt News recently published an article in which it claimed that an old video of a mob attacking police in Odisha is being shared as post-poll violence in West Bengal. The article said the old video was used to spread “misinformation” on social media and add “fuel to the fire”.

Snapshot of Alt News article promoting an old video to discredit violence in West Bengal

Needless to say, this article by Alt News was shared with the express purpose of casting aspersions on the reports of violence taking place in West Bengal. By alleging that old videos are in circulation, Alt News attempted to subtly insinuate that there was no post-poll violence in the state and that a malicious campaign was run on social media to tarnish the TMC government.

In its pursuit to raise doubts about the authenticity of violence in West Bengal, Alt News promoted irrelevant and old videos from the past so that they can be ‘fact-checked’ and people could be misled into believing that violence in West Bengal is an exaggeration, or even worse—a propaganda campaign.

Incidentally, soon after the videos of grisly violence carried out by TMC goons against their political rivals surfaced on the internet, many social media users, who are aware of Alt News’ shenanigans, foreboded that the so-called fact-checker would soon start promoting and ‘fact-checking’ old videos to provide a cover for the brutalities carried out in Bengal. Their prediction turned out to be true as Alt News tried to invalidate the claims of violence in West Bengal with its ‘fact-check’ of an old video.

This has been the typical modus operandi of Alt News for some time now where they try to discredit a narrative by leaning on ‘fact-checks’ of old videos and highlighting insignificant aspects while brushing damning facts under the rug.

For instance, during the start of the pandemic last year, a video of a vegetable seller applying saliva on his produce had gone viral on the internet. Alt News had then tried to counter the video by claiming that it was from February, before the coronavirus hit India. The fact that he was applying saliva to vegetable was an inconsequential nugget of information to Alt News. Rather, they were more interested in contesting the date on which the incident took place. 

Here too, they have selectively picked up obscure videos posted on the internet, and ‘fact-checked’ it to imply that the claims of violence in West Bengal are fake or are wildly exaggerated.

Besides Alt News, another so-called fact-checking website Boom Live was also found promoting an old video to suggest that the violence in West Bengal is blown out of proportion. In its article, Boom Live stated that an old and edited video showing people carrying weapons and dancing to a remixed version of ‘Khela Hobe’ is being passed off as a recent one. This again is a cunning ruse to cast aspersions on the actual violence currently underway in West Bengal and misleading readers into believing that old videos of violence are in circulation on the internet.

Source: Boom Live

Instances of post-poll violence in West Bengal following election results

Contrary to what left propganda websites like Alt News and Boom Live would have us believe, West Bengal was in grips of violence ever since the election results trend started titling in the favour of the ruling dispensation Trinamool Congress.

Soon after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) surpassed the BJP in Vidhan Sabha elections, the goons of the ruling dispensation unleashed violence against their political opponents. While the TMC had secured 213 seats, the BJP managed to win 77 constituencies. There have been multiple incidents of violence inflicted by TMC goons from several places across the state.

Petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court over the matter and the Congress party and the Left Front have accused TMC of attacking their cadres as well.

Media uses comments by bureaucrat with the same name to spread mischievous propaganda against Union Minister Piyush Goyal

OpIndia Staff
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Media uses comments by bureaucrat with the same name to spread mischievous propaganda against Union Minister Piyush Goyal

The mainstream media has played a mischievous game over the comments of a central officer who shares his name in order to cast aspersions on Union Minister Piyush Goyal. While the report accurately mentions that the Piyush Goyal in question is not the Union Minister but the additional secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the image they used is that of the Railway Minister himself.

Reports quote the bureaucrat as saying, “It is very important for all the hospitals that they ensure judicious use of oxygen as per the guidelines issued in this context by the Union Health Ministry. Many efforts are being undertaken in this context and we are getting positive results also.” However, the feature image is that of Union Minister Piyush Goyal.

The quoted comments further say, “Oxygen is available in adequate quantity in the country and efforts are being made to transport it to hospitals in the shortest possible time.” “If we undertake this battle together, I have no doubt that we will be victorious,” the bureaucrat added as per the reports.

However, the headline mischievously says, “No shortage of oxygen in country; use it judiciously: Goyal amid Covid-19 surge”. Combined with the feature image that was used, the intent becomes evident.

The News Caravan was not the only media outlet which indulged in such mischief. Punjab Kesari went a step further and mentioned the comments on the feature image of Union Minister Piyush Goyal himself, thus conveying the impression that it was him who made the comments.

Source: The Punjab Kesari

it needs to be emphasized here that the comments were made by additional secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Piyush Goyal, and not the Union Minister for Railways with the same name.

Hundreds of BJP workers flee Bengal, find sanctuary in Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma asks Mamata to stop ‘demonocracy’

OpIndia Staff
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Hundreds of BJP workers flee Bengal, find sanctuary in Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma asks Mamata to stop ‘demonocracy’

On Tuesday, BJP leader and Cabinet Minister in the Assam government Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that around 300-400 BJP workers have fled Bengal with their family members in order to escape the post-election violence wreaked by TMC goons.

Sarma clarified that the BJP karyakartas had crossed over from Bengal to Dhubri in Assam after being attacked and confronted with “brazen persecution & violence”. All of this violence comes just two days after the TMC stormed back to power.

The BJP workers from Bengal are being provided with food and shelter, according to Sarma. The BJP leader also condemned Mamata Banerjee, telling her to “stop this ugly dance of demonocracy”.

Soon after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) surpassed the BJP in Vidhan Sabha elections, the goons of the ruling dispensation unleashed violence against their political opponents. One worker, Avijit Sarkar, was murdered soon after he posted a video on Facebook speaking about the attack at his home.

Multiple videos have also come forward that shows that a spate of looting, arson, and violence has erupted in the state. The MHA has also asked the state government to submit a report on the post-poll violence targeting political opponents.

‘Muslim vote went to TMC, Hindus to BJP, for us, nothing left’: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury calls Congress rout in Bengal ‘humiliating loss’

OpIndia Staff
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‘Muslim vote went to TMC, Hindus to BJP, for us, nothing left’: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury calls Congress rout in Bengal ‘humiliating loss’

While senior Congress leaders such as Kapil Sibal and Shashi Tharoor are ecstatic with the TMC victory and BJP loss in West Bengal, senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury found the elections where Congress could not even open its account a deeply ‘humiliating loss’.

In an exclusive interview with the Indian Express, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury pondered upon the things that went wrong for the party in the West Bengal assembly elections and urged it to ‘come out of Twitter and Facebook’. Reflecting on the poll debacle, Chowdhury admitted that there is a need for change in the functioning.

Deflated by the stinging defeat in West Bengal, Chowdhury said that he cannot expect any “bright prospects in this present situation”.

Congress needs to come out of online world to the real world: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

“So if the Congress is able to put forth its point more vigorously and not confine itself to Twitter or WhatsApp but hit the streets in support of common people… otherwise this opportunity also will be lost. We should hit the streets because there’s no dearth of issues and people are suffering a lot,” Adhir said about the road ahead for the Congress party.

Talking about what resulted in the rout of the Congress party in West Bengal, Adhir held the party’s rudderless approach in the elections being one of them. “The TMC wanted to retain power and the BJP wanted to wrest power. We did not have such stakes, our fight was for survival,” he said.

Chowdhury also rued about how the Muslim population in the state abandoned the Congress party and rallied behind Mamata Banerjee. He said Mamata Banerjee was successful in exploiting the situation in Bengal and convincing Muslims that she is their only saviour.

The senior Congress leader also talked about the opportunistic alliance between the Congress party and the Left. He admitted that the likelihood of some Left cadres shifting their allegiance to the TMC could not be denied. He said, “The Muslim vote went to Trinamool and the Hindu vote went to the BJP. For us, there is nothing left.”

Absence of Rahul Gandhi from the election hustings demoralised the cadres: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

On being asked if the Congress high command abandoned its support to the West Bengal Congress unit, Chowdhury said that the morale of the party workers had taken a hit after Rahul Gandhi stopped organising rallies and election meets in the state. It gave the TMC, Adhir argued, an opportunity to “humiliate” the West Bengal Congress unit.

“We have been decimated by Mamata Banerjee regionally, we have been decimated by Modiji nationally. The BJP is the threat for us nationally and Mamata Banerjee is the threat for us regionally. So where should we go?” Adhir wondered on the lack of support from the central leadership of the Congress party.

When asked about his future plans, a despondent Adhir replied: “Nothing. I have been defeated in a humiliating manner. At this point, you may call me an ex-MP. If the results give any indication, certainly I have become an ex-MP.”

Adhir also lauded BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma, stating that it was Sarma who made the difference in Assam and enabled BJP victory in the state assembly elections.

Ready to resign from the West Bengal Congress President post of AICC decides so: Chowdhury

Responding to the question of whether he is going to resign after such a humiliating loss, Adhir said that he had never wanted to be the President of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee but on Sonia Gandhi’s insistence, he accepted the post. He said he is comfortable with whatever AICC decides and is ready take on the responsibility of whatever is asked of him.

The Congress party and the Left suffered an embarrassing defeat in the West Bengal state elections as the alliance failed to attract voters to vote for them. The Congress had a vote share of 2.94 per cent and polled 1,757,148, not winning a single seat out of the 292-member assembly seats.

‘I am willing to sacrifice my life to serve my Dharma’: BJP’s Arjun Singh condemns violence, says state leaders should resign if they cannot protect workers

OpIndia Staff
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‘I am willing to sacrifice my life to serve my Dharma’: BJP’s Arjun Singh condemns violence, says state leaders should resign if they cannot protect workers

BJP MP Arjun Singh has condemned the post-poll violence against the political opponents of Mamata Banerjee that has ensued in the aftermath of her victory. In a statement on social media, he has said, “I am a Sanatani Hindu and I am willing to sacrifice my life to serve my Dharma.” Singh represents Barrackpore constituency in the Lok Sabha.

Arjun Singh also said that if he cannot even protect the workers of the party, then he has no right to remain an elected representative. He has said that if the party gives permission, then he will implore the elected representatives of the BJP in Bengal to quit their posts and get on the ground to protect the workers.

“My party is ready to carry on the fight democratically. But this kind of revenge politics, 9 people have been murdered already, houses are being destroyed, bombs are being hurled, the police is absent. If it carries on like this, has West Bengal separated from the Union of India? Pakistan has already been created?”

He added, “Where are those who speak of secularism? Can they not see the atrocities being committed?” “I have told the party, if we cannot protect our people, then what right do we have to remain elected representatives?”

Post-poll violence by TMC goons has gripped West Bengal ever since Mamata Banerjee’s sweeping victory in the assembly elections. Petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court for urgent action regarding the matter. The Ministry of Home Affairs has sought a report as well and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called the Governor to express anguish over the violence.

National Commission for Women takes suo motu cognizance of violence by TMC against women in Nandigram, sends a team

OpIndia Staff
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National Commission for Women takes suo motu cognizance of violence by TMC against women in Nandigram, sends a team

On Tuesday, the National Commission for Women (NCW) took suo motu cognizance of the violence against women taking place in Nandigram, West Bengal. Right now, West Bengal is under the grip of post-election violence, committed mostly reportedly by the workers of the re-elected TMC. NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma has reportedly sought immediate action against the accused.

According to reports, NCW Chief Rekha Sharma has also dispatched a team to West Bengal for further inquiry. Rekha Sharma will reportedly lead the team herself.

In a video shared by BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on Monday, one can see how the goons were thrashing women workers of the BJP in Nandigram, where Mamata Banerjee lost to BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari.

Earlier today, PM Modi himself called on West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar to express his “serious anguish and concern at alarmingly worrisome law and order situation” in WB.

Bengal engulfed in violence as TMC goons go on a rampage against their political opponents

Soon after the trends hinted at a possible TMC sweep, the goons of the ruling dispensation unleashed violence against their political opponents. While the TMC had secured 213 seats, the BJP managed to win 77 constituencies. Multiple incidents of violence inflicted by TMC goons from several places across the state have been reported.

West Bengal is in throes of rampant political violence. Opposition political leaders and their supporters, including Congress workers, are being subjected to attacks and torture following the victory of Mamata Banerjee-led TMC in the recently concluded state assembly polls.

On Sunday (May 2), a BJP worker named Avijit Sarkar took to Facebook to narrate the harrowing tale of violence that he was subjected to by the TMC goons. The video was uploaded just hours before he was lynched to death by the miscreants. “I don’t know how to come live (on Facebook). They hurled bombs right in front of my eyes and vandalized my house and the party office. My only mistake is that I am a BJP worker.,” he recounted. OpIndia has learnt that Avijit Sarkar was beaten to death after uploading the two testimonials on Facebook

On Monday (May 3), News18 journalist Payal Mehta had shared the CCTV footage of another deadly attack unleashed by the TMC goons. In visuals caught on camera, the violent mob attacked the house of a BJP worker on Sunday evening in the Kasba locality of South Kolkata. At about 15 seconds into the video, a Trinamool Congress flag could be spotted. The goons initially tried to kick open the door of the house.

The TMC workers also gheraoed a BJP office in Arambagh and attacked it. The office was vandalized and subsequently burnt to the ground.

Another video of women being mercilessly dragged and beaten by TMC goons had gone viral on the social media yesterday.

The BJP has said that at least six of its workers and supporters have been killed since Sunday and a few hundred party offices and houses of BJP workers vandalized and ransacked across the state as the counting progressed and trends hinted towards TMC victory. In her defence, Banerjee alleged that BJP was using pictures of old riots to claim that they were attacked.

Chinese man seeking ‘freedom and equality’ navigates the Taiwan Strait in a rubber dinghy

OpIndia Staff
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Chinese man seeking ‘freedom and equality’ navigates the Taiwan Strait in a rubber dinghy

A Chinese man managed to cross the highly militarized Taiwan Strait in a rubber dinghy in his quest to seek ‘freedom and equality’, Taiwan police said.

The man, identified by his surname as Zhou, was detained on Saturday in Taiwan’s Taichung city after locals reported his suspicious behaviour.

“He said that he traveled from the Chinese province of Fujian, located on the east coast, in a rubber dinghy and wanted to move to Taiwan to seek freedom and equality”, the police informed.

Officials said they were still investigating Zhou’s sail over the 100-mile stretch of sea between China and Taiwan, which is guarded by thousands of Chinese and Taiwanese coast guard ships and naval vessels.

The Coast Guards told reporters that Zhou had traveled in a rubber raft measuring 8.8 feet by 5 feet that he bought on the Chinese e-commerce site Taobao and fitted it with an outboard motor. The authorities said Zhou brought with him 23 gallons of fuel and nothing else.

Zhou was found by local dock workers on Taichung port, who offered him their lunchboxes after he said he had sailed over from China. One of the workers informed their managers, who in turn notified the Taiwanese authorities about the intruder.

Zhou is currently held at a detention centre in Taichung and undergoing a mandatory 14-day quarantine. He could face three years of imprisonment, a fine as well as repatriation.

The incident has naturally raised concerns among the Taiwanese security analysts about the contentious waterway where Beijing has been aggressively increasing its presence. The concerns are also compounded by the facts that relations between China and Taiwan are at their lowest ebb after growing belligerence and irredentist claims made by the Chinese officials.

Beijing claims that the democratically governed Taiwan belongs to the People’s Republic of China, and has ratcheted up armed patrols and military sorties as a mark of intimidation. Taiwan, on the other hand, has steadfastly characterised itself as an independent nation and has rubbished sovereignty claims made by China.

Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Adityanath directs officials to start community kitchens to provide food for the poor amid lockdown

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Adityanath directs officials to start community kitchens to provide food for the poor amid lockdown

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday directed officials to start community kitchens to provide food to the poor and migrant labourers amid the lockdown imposed to stop the spread of coronavirus. In a review meeting with the officials over the COVID-19 outbreak in the state, CM Yogi Adityanath asked them to ensure that there is no scarcity of food for labourers, daily wage workers, street vendors, handcart pullers and others and that they are provided with proper meals during the course of lockdown.

Yogi Adityanath instructed the UP administration officials to operate community kitchens so that no one in the state starves during the lockdown period. A spokesperson for the UP government said that the CM told the officers in the COVID-19 review meeting that none of the labourers, handcart pullers, street vendors, daily wage workers and other needy people should face any difficulties in getting food to feed themselves and their families.

The chief minister asked the officials to work in conjunction with the Commissioner of Agricultural Production for the food requirements of people in the state. “It must be ensured that no person is distressed because of unavailability of food,” Yogi reportedly said.

Yogi Adityanath orders free ration to people for months, directs authorities to transport migrant labours back to their respective villages

Earlier last week, Yogi Adityanath government had announced free rations for two months in May and June to Antyodya cardholders through the Public Distribution System (PDS).

The state government said that the free ration was in addition to free ration being made available to ration-cardholders by the Central government under the NFSA in May and June.

Last month, the Yogi Adityanath government had asked officials to safely transport stranded migrant workers to their respective destinations after they had returned from Delhi and Maharashtra following the lockdown imposed in the states on account of the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

Yogi Adityanath government steps up efforts to ensure oxygen, remdesivir and hospital beds for COVID-19 patients

The Yogi Adityanath government had also stepped up efforts to ensure there is no scarcity of oxygen, key medicines and hospital beds to fight the resurgent wave of the coronavirus outbreak. The UP government also directed the state-run and private hospitals in the state to provide Remdesivir injections to the critically ill COVID-19 patients free of cost.

Furthermore, to avert an emergency crisis, Yogi Adityanath said that every district of Uttar Pradesh will be provided with 1,800 spare Remdesivir vials, in case those in dire need can procure from the administration without having to wait. These vials will be sold to patients at a fixed cost.

The Yogi Adityanath government has also designated one oxygen refiller in each district so that oxygen could be supplied to those who are home isolated.

Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in the state, the UP government has taken measures to stop black-marketing of essential drugs, including Remdesivir. To curb the illegal sale of essential drugs, the CM has ordered to slap NSA (National Security Act) against people who are involved in black-marketing of Covid-19 medicines.

8 Asiatic lions test positive for Coronavirus infection in Hyderabad, develop dry cough, nasal discharge

OpIndia Staff
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8 Asiatic lions test positive for Coronavirus infection in Hyderabad, develop dry cough, nasal discharge

While India is fighting the second wave of the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic, it has now come to light that 8 Asiatic lions at the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad in Telangana have tested positive for Coronavirus. The zoo is spread across a sprawling 380-acre campus and houses about 1500 animals.

Citing sources in the zoo, The Hindu reported that the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) has communicated that the big cats have been diagnosed with the Wuhan Coronavirus following Real-Time- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests. Reportedly, the big cats had developed Coronavirus symptoms such as dry cough, loss of appetite, and nasal discharge on April 24.

The zoo caretakers then alerted the veterinary team, who took swab samples of the animals and sent them for testing at the CCMB. The scientists will now undertake genome sequencing of the virus strain to detect whether it was transferred from human beings. The zoo authorities will also conduct a CT scan of the infected animals to determine the magnitude of the infection in their lungs.

Zoos, sanctuaries and national parks closed after 8 felines test positive

“Yes, the lions were tested after displaying mild symptoms. As of now they are active and are doing well,” another source confirmed. The infected animals comprise of four male and four female Asiatic lions. It must be mentioned that the Nehru Zoological Park is one of the biggest zoos in Asia. Earlier, more than 12 staff members at the zoo had tested positive. After the case came to light, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) issued an advisory on April 30 to shut down all national parks, zoos, sanctuaries.

Animals too can test positive for Wuhan Coronavirus

In March last year, a 2-year-old German Shepherd and a 17-year-old Pomeranian in Hong Kong were suspected of contracting the coronavirus from their infected owners. The Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said that a German shepherd tested positive for the virus in Pok Fu Lam, a residential area on the west coast of Hong Kong Island.

“No positive results were obtained from the mixed-breed dog and neither dog has shown any signs of disease,” it said. “The department will continue to closely monitor both dogs and conduct repeated tests on the animals.”Officials sent both the German shepherd and another dog from the same residence to a quarantine facility at the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

This came after an elderly 17-year-old Pomeranian, which had tested “weak positive” during repeated tests for the virus, died two days after it was released from quarantine disease-free.

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