ABRACADABRA

Ganga water is holy!

: IMTECH

New Delhi: Indian scientists have validated the scientific basis of the mysterious ‘special power’ of the water of Ganga, which Hindus consider as “Brahm Dravya” or divine elixir.

Microbiologists from the Chandigarh-based Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), who had studied the special characteristics of Ganges water have found, for the first time, several Bacteriophages, which keeps it non-putrefying. Bacteriophage is a type of virus that eats bacteria.

This resolves the mystery for the self-purifying properties of Ganga water. “Analysis of the fresh water sedimentary metagenome-viromes revealed that the holy river Ganges not only house novel viromes, but also  include unexplored double stranded DNA viruses,” The Indian Science Journal quotes Dr.  Shanmugam Mayilraj, Senior Principal Scientist at the CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, as saying.

It is for the first time, scientists have come across new viruses. Dr. Mayilraj said, the fresh water sediments from the Ganges house several novel viruses, which were never reported earlier. These bacteriophages are active against certain clinical isolates, or viral strains and can be used against multi-drug resistant or MDR infections.

Dr. Mayilraj and his team has identified 20-25 interesting  viruses, which can be used for treatment of tuberculosis (Mycobacterium), typhoid (Salmonella), pneumonia (Klebsiella and Acinetobactor), cholera (Vibrio), dysentery (Shigella), diarrhoea (Aeromonoas) meningitis (Cronobacter), etc.

Several scientists in the past – Indian and international, have found certain clinical properties of Ganga water, but it is for the credit of microbiologists of IMTECH to identify them.

Thief who steals on demand!

Bhayander: Sleuths of the Thane (rural) police are on the lookout for the kingpin of a gang involved in stealing bikes as per the demand and preferences of prospective customers who don’t mind buying them at throwaway prices.

The matter came to light after the desire for speed and style landed a 20-year-old collegian into the custody of the Naya Nagar police after he was caught zooming around on a stolen bike in Mira Road. However, the mastermind of the racket (name withheld) and his other accomplices are still at large. Indicating at a full-fledged marketing team in place, the police believe that unlike the traditional practice of steal and sell, the members of the gang executed tailor-made thefts as per the model of in-demand bikes preferred by the prospective customers.

The accused rob the two-wheelers and before selling them away at throwaway prices, modify them by changing their colours, number plate and even silencers, making it virtually impossible even for its original owner to recognize his own vehicle.

“We are on the trail of the bike thieves and are confident of apprehending them soon,” said an investigating officer from the Naya Nagar police station. The lack of co-ordination between the RTOs in various states is a major boost to the auto thieves who find it easy to create a totally different identity of a stolen vehicle in a new city.

Delhi assembly hails Modi!

New Delhi: In a rare show of unity, the AAP-dominated assembly unanimously passed a resolution hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian Army for targeting the terrorists across the Line of Control (LoC). Speaking towards the end of the day’s session, Kejriwal said he was putting off the promised revelation in the light of the “situation at the border”.

He did briefly refer to the frequent arrests of his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs, saying they were being framed in false cases as part of a larger conspiracy. “We wanted to present this in the assembly. But because of the prevalent situation at the border, it is our duty to stand by the Central government,” he said to thumping of desks by members. “We can sort out our issues at a later date,” Kejriwal said. Kejriwal first postponed and then cancelled a press conference after the government said the army carried out surgical strikes across the LoC. Earlier, moving a resolution condemning the September 18 attack on an army camp that killed 19 soldiers, Kejriwal extended wholehearted support to the Central government for any steps it takes in the country’s interest.

“We will support all the steps it takes for internal as well as external security of the nation,” he said.

The original resolution hailed the Army for attacking the terrorists.

Opposition leader Vijender Gupta, while backing the resolution, moved an amendment to include Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name for taking the “landmark” decision to attack the terrorist launch pads.

Kejriwal agreed. The resolution was amended to also congratulate Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and chiefs of armed forces.

Gupta also urged Kejriwal to delete his September 27 tweet referring to an article he had shared with the comment: “Excellent article. On Uri, rather than Pak, India seems to be getting isolated internationally.”

Manila ‘Hitler’ wants to kill 3mn druggies

Manila: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte likened himself to Hitler and said he will be happy to kill the three million drug users and dealers in the country.

Talking to reporters after his visit to Vietnam, The Philippine Star quoted Duterte as saying: “Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now, there are three million drug addicts. I’d be happy to slaughter them.”

Duterte’s comments came a day after US Defense Secretary Ash Carter described the US-Philippines alliance as ironclad despite the Philippines leader abusing Barack Obama in September.