India

Kolkata, May 1 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said the ongoing lockdown to combat the COVID-19 pandemic has badly hit the working class.

She greeted all workers and their families on "international workers day" and said that all "have to stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters" during these tough times.

Kochi, May 1 (PTI) The first special train from Kerala carrying 1,200 migrant workers to Bhubaneswar in Odisha will leave from the Aluva railway station near here on Friday evening, state Minister V S Sunil Kumar said.

The migrant workers from Odisha accommodated in camps in Ernakulam District since the COVID-19 lockdown will be brought to the station in state-run corporation buses as per the protocol announced by the government, he said.

Official sources said the train was scheduled for 6 pm departure.

Palghar, May 1 (PTI) The Maharashtra CID Crime Branch has arrested five more persons in connection with the lynching of two sadhus and their driver under Kasa police station limits in Palghar district on April 16, officials said on Friday.

The three victims, from Kandivali in Mumbai, were on their way to attend a funeral in Surat in Gujarat amid the lockdown when they were attacked and killed by a mob in Gadchinchile village in the presence of a police.

Kochi, May 1 (PTI) India functions both as a source and a destination point for different species of trafficked reptiles, a new global analysis of wildlife trafficking seizures in air transport said.

"India's involvement in the illegal reptile trade is so significant that recent reports estimate that around 11,000 turtles and tortoises are trafficked through the country each year", says the report released by TRAFFIC, an NGO working globally on trade in wild animals and plants.

KANPUR: Stray dogs are completely saved from lockdown norm. These street dogs enter every area whether red zone, orange or green. Where men can not enter, these feral dogs go without any fear.

They seem to enter and exit defying the watchmen's sight.

The moment they start roaming inside the closed gate, the children start screaming. Children run away out of a deep sense of panic. Dog makes a quick way out before adults come to their rescue.

Srinagar, Apr 30 (PTI) Authorities in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir have made wearing face masks mandatory in all public places from Friday, officials said.

"From May 1, let's please make it sure to wear face mask at all times, at all places of contact. We will ensure to make masks available to everyone. Do remember: mask is just one of various precautions," Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary said in a tweet.

New Delhi, Apr 30 (PTI) Reliance Industries on Thursday reported a 38.7 per cent drop in fourth quarter net profit at Rs 6,348 crore on weak energy and petrochemical business.

The company had posted a net profit of Rs 10,362 crore in January-March 2019.

Reliance announced a rights issue of Rs 53,125 crore, which it said was the biggest in India. The ratio would be 1:15 at a price of Rs 1,257.

Shillong, Apr 30 (PTI) The Meghalaya government on Thursday declared 10 of the state's 11 districts as 'green zones' and allowed inter-district movement there, a op official said.

The decision was taken as no COVID-19 case was reported from these districts, he said.

New Delhi, Apr 29 (PTI) The Delhi Police has added charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against former JNU student Sharjeel Imam, officials said on Wednesday.

Imam was arrested allegedly for instigating and abetting riots with his speech delivered on December 13.

New Delhi, Apr 29 (PTI) Migrant workers, tourists, students and other people stranded in different parts of the country due to the ongoing lockdown were on Wednesday allowed to move to their respective destinations with certain conditions, giving a big relief to the distressed people.

The Union Home Ministry also said it has reviewed the COVID-19 situation in the country and found that tremendous gains were achieved during the lockdown and new guidelines will be issued soon, giving considerable relaxations to many districts from May 4.