Section 144 clamped in Mangaluru; social media under scanner

Hubli, April 3: Twelve people including 5 women as well as 50 unidentified people have been booked for allegedly pelting stones at police personnel in Mantur area of Hubli on Friday.

The police were allegedly attacked for stopping people from offering Friday prayers at a mosque, during the ongoing lockdown put in place in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

"12 people including five women and 50 unidentified people have been booked for stone-pelting at police personnel in Mantur area of Hubli today. The women have been taken into custody while police are searching for the others," said Hubli-Dharwad Police Commissioner R Dilip.

The Police Commissioner further said, "Some prominent people of the community had also urged the devotees to go to their homes but they got agitated."

"Four policemen have sustained minor injuries in the incident," he said adding that "legal action will be taken against the culprits." 

Mangaluru, Mar 25: In the wake of coronavirus outbreak, Nalin Kumar Kateel, Member of Parliament today declared that the coastal city of Mangaluru will remain completely shut tomorrow, (March 26) onwards.

"Today the people were given time to go out of their houses to buy essentials today. But from tomorrow, this will not be allowed," the MP said. 

"We are discussing with officials of all departments about ways to manage the situation. Essential things and facilities people need, will be delivered at their doorsteps. We are sorting out how to deliver the items on behalf of the government and mode of delivery of items to apartment complexes," he said.

He said that a large number of patients from Kasaragod had come into the city yesterday. Hence, the district administration has taken a decision, he said.

"Under the present circumstances, the hospitals in the city would not be sufficient for our purpose. So the administration will not allow any vehicles including ambulances into the city. All the ambulances would be blocked from entering Dakshina Kannada district at Talapady border and sent back," he said.

Mangaluru, Mar 22: A 22-year-old man from Bhatkal who had returned from Dubai on March 19 has tested positive for coronavirus.

Sindhu B Rupesh, Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada confrimed this today.

The youth, after landing at Mangaluru International Airport had got admitted to Govt Wenlock Hospital.

The total number of coronavirus positive patients in India rose to 342 on Sunday, as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

A total of 16,999 samples from 16,109 individuals have been tested for COVID-19 as of 10:00 am on March 22, as per ICMR data.

India reported two deaths today from the highly contagious virus - one each in Maharashtra and Bihar - taking the tally to six, as per state authorities.