You can go out drinking in Bengaluru from September 1

Coronavirus

Bars, pubs, night clubs and micro breweries in Karnataka will be allowed to serve alcohol from September 1, as per an order issued by the state excise department.

TNM Staff

Representational image

The Karnataka government on Monday issued guidelines for reopening restaurants including pubs and bars from September 1 with 50% capacity. Bars, pubs, night clubs and micro breweries in the state, including capital Bengaluru, will be allowed to serve alcohol from September 1, as per an order issued by the state excise department. The establishments will be allowed to operate at 50% capacity and alcohol will be served only at tables, meaning the orders issued earlier allowing establishments to sell alcohol at MRP prices will no longer be in effect. Establishments with CL-4, CL-6a, CL-7, CL-7a, CL-7b, CL-9, CL-17 and CL-18 licenses will be allowed to open starting on Tuesday.  The department also introduced a slew of guidelines to be followed at restaurants, bars, hotels and other hospitality units. These included screening employees and customers for COVID-19 symptoms, maintaining physical distancing norms and encouraging take-away instead of dine-in. "Adequate personnel will be deployed at establishments to enforce social distancing norms," read the guideline. Spitting shall be strictly prohibited in establishments.  Hotels which are in containment zones will continue to remain closed till September 30 at least.  Earlier in the day, the Karnataka government confirmed the metro services will return in a reduced capacity from September 7 while schools, colleges and educational institutions will allow teachers to return in a reduced capacity from September 21. Students from classes 9 to 12 will also be allowed in the school to clarify doubts even as online education is encouraged.  Marriage gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 50 guests and funerals, last rites will be carried out with up to 20 people. The limit will be increased to 100 persons from September 21. Read: Karnataka issues order for Unlock 4.0, no word on pubs and bars yet

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SC orders MHA to ensure Vijay Mallya be brought before court on Oct 5

Legal

Earlier on Monday, the apex court has rejected Vijay Mallya’s pleas to seek a review of the order where he was held guilty.

TNM Staff

The Supreme Court on Monday asked former liquor baron and now fugitive Vijay Mallya to be present before the court in person on October 5 at 2 pm. The apex court has directed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to arrange his presence whi is currently in the United Kingdom. It was earlier reported n the day that Mallya’s review petition on the apex court’s 2017 order that had held him guilty of contempt of court for transferring 40 million dollars to his children were rejected. A bench comprising Justices UU Lalit and Ashok Bhushan said, "We do not find any merits. Review petition dismissed." The apex court had reserved its verdict on the review plea on August 27 after hearing arguments from both sides. Mallya had filed the petition seeking review of the apex court's May 9, 2017 order by which he was held guilty of contempt of court for transferring USD 40 million to his children in violation of the order. Mallya is an accused in a bank loan default case of over Rs 9,000 crore, involving his defunct Kingfisher Airlines. In 2017, the court was hearing a petition filed by a consortium of banks led by the State Bank of India (SBI), which had said that Mallya had allegedly transferred USD 40 million received from British firm Diageo, to his children in "flagrant violation" of various judicial orders. The SBI in its plea said, Mallya has disobeyed the court's order by making "vague and unclear disclosure of assets" by transferring 40 million dollars from Diageo to his children's accounts, and also by ignoring the summons to the court.   On June 19, the apex court sought an explanation from its Registry as to why the review petition filed by Mallya was not listed for the past three years. The Supreme Court has also asked the registry for the names of the officers involved in the process.   Mallya fled India in March 2016 and is reported to be in England. In January 2019, the Indian government had declared Vijay Mallya a fugitive economic offender.

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Why Bengaluru’s COVID-19 positivity, death rate are on the decline

Coronavirus

The mortality rate of Bengaluru at 1.5% is better than the Karnataka and national averages.

Soumya Chatterjee

In a positive sign for Bengaluru despite the daily increase in COVID-19 cases, both the positivity rate and mortality rate of the disease have decreased compared to what they were a month ago. Positivity rate is the percentage of patients testing positive per 100 tests while the mortality rate is the number of persons dying per 100 positive patients. In fact, the mortality rate of Bengaluru at 1.5% is better than that the state average (1.7%) and the national average (1.8%), as per the State COVID-19 War Room report of August 30 (data as of Aug 29). Though the positivity rate continues to remain higher at 15.11% while the state average is at 12% and the national average is 9%, there has been a decline of 2.23% in the positivity rate compared to July. Dr Giridhar Babu, an epidemiologist with the Public Health Foundation of India, who is part of expert committees formed by both the state and the Centre said, “Bengaluru is fairly in a good position given the number of cases are growing at a staggering pace.”  He attributed the improvement in the numbers to the increase in testing and surveillance activity, but he stressed that testing has to be improved further qualitatively and quantitatively.  “We should not worry about any numbers now as almost everything has opened up (lockdown relaxations), except for the death rate. Nobody should take credit for reporting fewer cases; rather priority should be to detect vulnerable cases early. As long as the cases grow at a pace that does not overburden the system, it should be fine. Ideally, the positivity rate should be less than 5% as recommended by the WHO,” Dr Babu said. Dr Pradeep Banandur, an epidemiologist at NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health And Neurological Sciences) who is working closely with the state health department, said that the improvement in allocating beds with time and better treatment modules coupled with the awareness of early testing has improved the situation. “People are being detected early and this means they can be treated early. More importantly, there is enough evidence now to state that maintaining oxygen saturation and provisioning oxygen instead of going for mechanical ventilation or intubation saves more lives. So I think with improved knowledge of how to treat people and an improved treatment protocol is helping us manage better than other states,” he told TNM.  Data details Cases in Bengaluru have been rising at least in excess of 2,000 cases every day for the last 10 days since August 20 with an average of around 22,000 people getting tested each day. As of August 29, as per the data, Bengaluru had 1,27,263 cumulative positive cases while the number was 53,324 on July 29. The number of total fatalities on July 29 was 1,010 and the same on August 29 are 1,939. With this, the mortality rate of COVID-19 in Bengaluru was at 2.77% while the positivity rate was at 17.34% on July 29. On August 29, the mortality rate is now at 1.52% and the positivity rate is at 15.11%. This improvement in positivity rate is observed after Bengaluru witnessed a steady increase in the number of cases due to ramping up of testing since June. The positivity rate in Bengaluru at the end of May was 1.17%, and 17.34% on June 29.  The spike can be explained with the stark difference of positivity rate in the month of June (6.91%) and July (24.15%).  Unlike the positivity rate, the mortality rate has been on a gradual decline since the end of May. On May 31, the mortality rate was 3.11%, and on July 29 it was 2.77% and is 1.52% as of August 29. Increased testing, early detection of cases and other medical interventions ensured that the mortality rate for the months of June (1.69%) and July (1.85%) did not increase significantly. 

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Laying of tracks on Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield line of Bengaluru metro begins

Transport

This comes as a major relief for those living and working around Whitefield area, as many have been waiting for metro connectivity.

TNM Staff

@WF_Watcher ·/Twitter

In good news for residents and those working in Whitefield, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has started laying tracks for the Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield metro line as part of the Purple Line extension. With this, the installation of rail tracks, as well as welding work, is being carried out on a 3-km stretch near Whitefield.  The report quotes contractors as saying that they are optimistic that around 3 km of track between Sitharama Palya (formerly known as Visvesvaraya Industrial Area) and Whitefield metro stations will also be done by October. Most of the work, including track laying work between KR Puram and Whitefield, is expected to be ready by March 2021, the report added.  However, Channappa Gowda, Special Land Acquisition Officer for BMRCL, told Bangalore Mirror that they are yet to acquire 57 properties needed for widening roads near the KR Puram Railway Station and Jyotipur underpass. Another issue that may be a hurdle to the metro line is that 60 trees in the Benniganahalli lake area need to be cleared and the case is currently being heard by the high court. This could further delay the timeline. This is the third stretch of the Bengaluru metro in the phase II plan, which has already seen the Kanakapura Road and Mysuru Road metro extensions being completed. The metro station at Yelachenahalli will be extended to Anjanapura while the station at Mysuru Road will be extended to Kengeri. Earlier, the inauguration of Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield line was to be done by December 2021 but a shortage of labour and a halt in construction this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed construction works. The 15km stretch is now expected to be completed by June 2022. Along with the Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield line, three other metro lines were expected to be completed by 2021. This included the metro lines from Nagasandra to Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Gottigere to Swagath Road Cross, and RV Road to Bommasandra via Electronic City.

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DK Shivakumar recovers from COVID-19, discharged from hospital

Coronavirus

Photographs emerged showing DK Shivakumar standing outside the out-patient department section of Suguna Hospital.

TNM Staff

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President and senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar was discharged from the hospital a week after he tested positive for the coronavirus. DK Shivakumar was receiving treatment in Suguna Hospital in Bengaluru's Rajajinagar and was discharged on Monday afternoon. Photographs emerged showing DK Shivakumar standing outside the out-patient department section of Suguna Hospital. "DK Shivakumar, President, KPCC who was admitted in Suguna Hospital, Rajajinagar since 24/08/2020 with complaints of fever and myalgia has recovered well and discharged from the hospital," read a statement from Dr. Kiran Kumar BR, CEO of Suguna Hospital. The statement said that Shivakumar had responded well to the treatment. "Suguna Hospital’s multidisciplinary team of specialists from internal medicine, critical care, pulmonology; infectious diseases treated DK Shivakumar and he responded well to the treatment," the statement by Dr. Kiran added. Shivakumar was hospitalised on August 25 on the advice of doctors. He was hospitalised soon after he returned from New Delhi after meeting senior Congress leaders. He postponed a scheduled visit to flood-affected areas in north Karnataka on August 25. His visit was set to cover Bagalkot and Belagavi districts in the state. Heavy rains disrupted life in parts of the state causing flood-like situations and triggering landslides. Recently, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, Health Minister Sriramulu and former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Siddaramiah were hospitalised after testing positive for coronavirus. All three of them made a full recovery after being infected.    

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Karnataka issues order for Unlock 4.0, no word on pubs and bars yet

Lockdown

The Karnataka government is considering issuing a set of guidelines which allows pubs and bars to function in a reduced capacity.

TNM Staff

The Karnataka government on Monday issued an order in line with the Union Home Ministry's guidelines for relaxing restrictions in Bengaluru under Unlock 4.0. The guidelines allowed for metro services to resume in a phased manner from September 7 but there is no confirmation or guidelines specified for allowing pubs and bars to serve alcohol. The guidelines issued by the Home Ministry did not prohibit the opening of pubs and bars and the Karnataka government is considering issuing a set of guidelines which allows pubs and bars to function in a reduced capacity.  "The state government is deciding on the issue of opening bars and pubs. This will be communicated shortly," an official from the Excise Department told TNM. Until the decision is taken, pubs and bars will remain closed.  Theatres, entertainment parks, swimming pools etc will continue to remain closed however open-air theatres will be allowed from September 21. Schools and colleges will continue to remain closed. However, from September 21, 50% of teaching and non-teaching staff can be called to the school at a time for online teaching and counselling related work.  "Social, academic, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious, political functions and other congregations with a ceiling of 100 persons, will be permitted with effect from 21 September 2020, with mandatory wearing of face masks, social distancing, provision for thermal scanning and handwash or sanitiser," reads the order.  Online education will be encouraged but students of classes 9-12 may visit schools for guidance from September 21. However, marriage gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 50 guests and funerals, last rites will be carried out with up to 20 people. The limit will be increased to 100 persons from September 21. The relaxations are applicable only outside containment zones. In these zones, the current restrictions will continue till September 30.  

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Bengaluru drug bust: Drug peddler allegedly had diary with names of Kannada celebs

Crime

The NCB has arrested three people in connection with the drug bust on August 21.

Theja Ram

Image for representation

The Narcotics Control Bureau, which busted a synthetic drug racket last week, has seized a diary from the prime accused, which allegedly contains the names of 15 celebrities including actors, musicians, models and reality TV actors from Karnataka. NCB sources say they suspect that the drug peddlers, who were arrested, were selling MDMA and LSD to these artistes regularly. NCB sleuths are now looking to question these actors and musicians in order to obtain more information on other peddlers operating in South India.  On August 21, the NCB conducted raids at Nikoo Homes, an upscale gated community in Bengaluru and seized 96 pills of MDMA, weighing 40 gm, and 180 LSD blots. A drug peddler named Ravindra was arrested here. The second raid was conducted at Royal Suites Hotel service apartment in Kalyan Nagar, 145 MDMA pills weighing 60 gm were seized along with Rs 2,20, 500 cash. The sleuths arrested a man named Anoop, who was allegedly in possession of these drugs. Based on inputs from the arrested accused in these two raids, the NCB arrested Anikha D, who is the prime suspect in the case, from her home in Doddagubbi. The NCB seized 270 MDMA pills, weighing 111.6 gm, from her residence.  Upon interrogation, the NCB learned that Anikha allegedly became a campus dealer in 2014 and began selling synthetic drugs to students. NCB sources said that over the years, she built a network of actors, musicians, models and reality TV actors in Karnataka and used to sell drugs to them regularly. “In Anikha's possession was a diary, which has the names of celebrities she used to deal drugs to. We want to question them in the coming days to get to the bottom of the racket and fish out the peddlers and their network,” an NCB source said.  The drugs, which were seized in Bengaluru, were allegedly shipped from Brussels in Belgium. NCB sleuths said that Anikha was one of the drug peddlers, who used to supply synthetic drugs in huge quantities to members from affluent sections of the society. “Since the news of actors and musicians being involved is out in the open, it will be difficult to nab them red handed,” the NCB added.  Sandalwood filmmaker Indrajit Lankesh on Saturday, had openly said that drug use was rampant in the Kannada film industry. “Some actors do consume drugs, mostly at the parties. I am aware that they consume drugs inside their vanity vans on the sets. I would not deny the allegation that there is a link between the drug mafia and the Kannada film industry. Many budding actors attend rave parties and consume drugs to get noticed. But it is also true that not all actors consume drugs,” Indrajit Lankesh said. After his statement to the media, the Central Crime Branch summoned him for questioning on Sunday. Karnataka Director General and Inspector General of Police said that apart from the NCB’s probe, the state police too would begin probing into the drug mafia. Praveen Sood said that synthetic drugs were mostly sold by foreign nationals, whose visas have expired. “We will identify forign nationals whose visas have expired and look to see if they are selling drugs. Most of the time they turn to drug trade as they don’t have many employment options after their visas expire,” Praveen Sood added.   

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IMD predicts more rain in coastal, south interior Karnataka this week

Weather

The weather agency further predicted fresh rainfall including thunderstorms in the coastal region of the state.

TNM Staff

A fresh bout of rain was forecasted in coastal and southern interior Karnataka this week. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded rainfall in coastal Karnataka on Sunday. "The southwest monsoon was weak over north coastal Karnataka. Rainfall occurred at most places over coastal Karnataka and in few places over interior Karnataka," a release by IMD said. Heavy rains and gusty wind were reported in Uttara Kannada district's Karwar since Saturday night.  The weather agency further predicted fresh rainfall including thunderstorms in the coastal region of the state this week. "Rain/thunderstorms are very likely to occur at many places over coastal Karnataka and south Interior Karnataka and at a few places over north interior Karnataka," IMD said. According to the IMD, this is expected to continue for another week. Fairly widespread rainfall is predicted on August 31 in coastal Karnataka while widespread rainfall is predicted from September 1-4. Fairly widespread rainfall is predicted in south interior Karnataka, the weather agency's forecast stated.  The Karnataka government has estimated that a loss of Rs 4,000 crore was incurred during the monsoon this year after heavy rains affected life in 12 districts in the state.  Heavy rains disrupted life in Karnataka earlier this month. The state government had set up 92 relief camps in the affected districts for sheltering over 4,000 people. Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai reported that 385 houses were fully damaged and 7,238 houses partially damaged. Food crops in 89,440 hectares and horticultural crops in 51,803 hectares of land have been destroyed in heavy rains and floods as well. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said he will be seeking more funds for the state for flood relief works when he visits New Delhi in September. 

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Falling Covid-19 cases create opportunity and peril for Trump

Virus cases are dropping everywhere, but the rush to reopen could backfire.

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Bengaluru’s west zone reports most COVID-19 cases, east zone has highest recoveries

Coronavirus

Bengaluru reported 2,821 COVID-19 patients on August 30.

TNM Staff

Image for representation/PTI

Bengaluru, which reported 2,821 COVID-19 cases on August 30, taking the total number of people to have tested positive for the novel coronavirus to 1,07,875. Of these, 37,703 are active cases. While a majority of the new patients on August 30 are from the west zone, east zone reported the highest number of recoveries. According to the latest Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike COVID-19 War Room report, west zone has reported nearly 500 patients, accounting for 23% of the new cases, while recoveries were just under 400. East zone meanwhile, reported over 400 recoveries – the highest in the city on the said day – and less than 400 new COVID-19 cases (14% of the new cases). No other zone reported more discharges than positive patients. Bommanahalli has been seeing an increase in its share in the last few days and 16% of the new cases on August 30 were from there. South zone accounted for the third highest – 17% share – of the new cases.  West zone, which has been reporting a quarter of all cases in Bengaluru for many past days, has seen a reduction in share in the last 10 days and accounted for 21% of COVID-19 cases reported. South zone reported 18% and east zone 17% in the last 10 days, followed by Bommanahalli (12%), RR Nagara (11%), Mahadevapura and Yelahanka (8% each) and Dasarahalli (5%). BBMP did not provide an updated number of containment zones in Bengaluru on Sunday, so the number remains the same at 15,723 active containment zones out of a total of 40,563. Overall, 39% containment zones are active in the city – most of them being in the south zone – and 61% have returned to normal status. The active rate in Bengaluru is at 29.99%, while the recovery rate has risen to 68.48%. The death rate due to COVID-19 is at 1.54%. Karnataka has 88,091 active coronavirus cases, with 2,42,229 recoveries and 5,589 deaths.    

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Bengaluru’s west zone reports most COVID-19 cases, east zone has highest recoveries

Coronavirus

Bengaluru reported 2,821 COVID-19 patients on August 30.

TNM Staff

Image for representation/PTI

Bengaluru, which reported 2,821 COVID-19 cases on August 30, taking the total number of people to have tested positive for the novel coronavirus to 1,07,875. Of these, 37,703 are active cases. While a majority of the new patients on August 30 are from the west zone, east zone reported the highest number of recoveries. According to the latest Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike COVID-19 War Room report, west zone has reported nearly 500 patients, accounting for 23% of the new cases, while recoveries were just under 400. East zone meanwhile, reported over 400 recoveries – the highest in the city on the said day – and less than 400 new COVID-19 cases (14% of the new cases). No other zone reported more discharges than positive patients. Bommanahalli has been seeing an increase in its share in the last few days and 16% of the new cases on August 30 were from there. South zone accounted for the third highest – 17% share – of the new cases.  West zone, which has been reporting a quarter of all cases in Bengaluru for many past days, has seen a reduction in share in the last 10 days and accounted for 21% of COVID-19 cases reported. South zone reported 18% and east zone 17% in the last 10 days, followed by Bommanahalli (12%), RR Nagara (11%), Mahadevapura and Yelahanka (8% each) and Dasarahalli (5%). BBMP did not provide an updated number of containment zones in Bengaluru on Sunday, so the number remains the same at 15,723 active containment zones out of a total of 40,563. Overall, 39% containment zones are active in the city – most of them being in the south zone – and 61% have returned to normal status. The active rate in Bengaluru is at 29.99%, while the recovery rate has risen to 68.48%. The death rate due to COVID-19 is at 1.54%. Karnataka has 88,091 active coronavirus cases, with 2,42,229 recoveries and 5,589 deaths.    

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Centre’s proposal asking states to borrow a 'skewed idea': Deve Gowda on GST recovery

Finance

The JD(S) leader said that the GST Council meeting held last week appeared to have further strained the already delicate relationship between the states and the central government.

TNM Staff

Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda on Sunday termed as a "skewed idea" the Centre's suggestion that states can go for borrowing to make up for the GST shortfall and said it cannot be seen shirking its responsibility. The JD(S) leader also said that the GST Council meeting held last week appeared to have further strained the already delicate relationship between the states and the central government. "The Centre's suggestion that the states should borrow to make good the expected shortfall of Rs 2.35 lakh crore in GST compensation this year has, expectedly, not gone down well," Deve Gowda said in a statement. The statement comes a week before Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has to choose the GST compensation recovery for the state following a meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over video conference on Tuesday. Noting that the states were already under financial strain, he said, "To ask the states to borrow is a skewed idea because in July 2017 they had given up their right to levy taxes and had allowed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime." "They had agreed to do so because the central government had assured to adequately compensate them. I tend to agree with the argument that the onus is on the Centre to borrow and compensate the states. It cannot be seen shirking this responsibility," he said. The Centre on Saturday wrote to states suggesting options of borrowing money to make up for the Rs 2.35 lakh crore shortfall in GST revenues expected in the current fiscal. Two days after first making the suggestion at the GST Council meeting, the Finance Ministry wrote to state governments saying they could borrow either via a special window it will facilitate through the RBI or raise debt from the market. Deve Gowda said that besides GST, the new formula for devolution of taxes under the 15th Finance Commission had also created some disquiet. Many progressive states feel that they contribute more to central taxes but receive much less in return, he added. The central government, which has often spoken of 'co-operative federalism' should engage the states actively, and arrive at a consensus on all difficult matters, he said. The states and the Centre being at loggerheads all too frequently does not augur well for our wellbeing as a nation, the former prime minister said. The Finance Minister has spoken about the 'Act of God', Gowda pointed out and said, "I agree with her. But, we cannot sit back and wait for God to set right the mess we often put ourselves in. As the proverbial saying goes, God helps those who help themselves." Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had earlier said that the economy has been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is an "Act of God" and it will see a contraction in the current fiscal. With PTI inputs

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'Killing cow a crime': Karnataka Minister K Sudhakar pushes for ban on cow slaughter

Politics

Since the BJP came to power in Karnataka, there have been calls from various party leaders to bring back anti cow-slaughter legislation.

TNM Staff

Karnataka Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar on Sunday said that it was a 'crime' to kill cows even as the BJP government in the state mulled over bringing back the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Bill. "Cow is like a member of the family and it's a crime to kill cows," Sudhakar said at the inauguration of a goshala (a shelter for cows) in Chikkaballapura, a media release from his office said. Terming cow slaughter a 'sin', the minister said he would request Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa to ban slaughtering of the animal in the state. Also, there was a need for people's movement to create awareness against cow slaughtering, he said. "Being Indians, all state governments should ban cow slaughtering," the minister added.  The minister indicated that a discussion will be held in the Assembly on the export of beef. "Our party is committed to ban beef exports, there will be a decision soon on this," he said. Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chavan had recently said the state would soon implement a ban on cow slaughter, sale and consumption of beef in line with other states. Once the COVID-19 crisis eases, an expert committee would be constituted to look into the matter, and if need be, it will visit states like Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh to study about implementation of the ban there, he had said. The BJP in its manifesto for the 2018 Assembly Election had promised prohibition of cow slaughter. Despite resistance from opposition, the then BJP government led by BS Yediyurappa in 2010 had passed the controversial Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill in the Assembly, proposing to replace the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964. The bill had widened the definition of 'cattle' and imposed a blanket ban on cattle slaughter, coupled with stringent penalty clauses for violations.The bill prohibited slaughter of cattle, sale, usage and possession of beef, restricted transport of cattle and also prohibited sale, purchase or disposal of cattle for slaughter. The punishment for the offences included imprisonment of no less than one year which could extend up to seven years or a fine between Rs 25000 and Rs 50000 or both for a first offence.  However, then Governor HR Bhardwaj failed to give his assent for the bill.   The ban on cow slaughter in Karnataka is according to the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation 1964. However, this act bans the slaughter and sale of cows, calves and she-buffaloes. The law allows slaughter of bulls, bullocks and male-buffaloes. It also allows slaughter of female buffaloes aged above twelve years, or are no longer fit for breeding or cannot give milk. This scope was widened through the 2010 bill.  However, the Congress government headed by Siddaramaiah that came to power in 2013 withdrew the bill that was pending before the President for his assent. He termed the legislation 'draconian' and 'unconstitutional'. He also tore a copy of the bill and threw it in the air in the Assembly. After the BJP came back to power in the state in 2019, several party leaders have been making a pitch to re-enact the anti- cow slaughter law. The Cow Protection Cell within the BJP submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Yediyurappa in August 2019, soon after the BJP came to power, to ban the sale of beef in Karnataka.   

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Bengaluru Namma Metro waiting for directions from Centre to start operations

Transport

A BMRCL official said other than the mandatory rule of wearing masks, the passenger capacity of each train will be reduced to 300-350 from the carrying capacity of 1800.

IANS

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) is waiting for guidelines from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to resume its service on the twin routes across the city from September 7 in a phased manner amid COVID-19 scare, an official said on Sunday. "Though the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has allowed resuming metro services across the country from September 7 under Unlock 4.0, with dos and don'ts for the safety of commuters and our staff, we need clearance from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs with guidelines specific to our operations in the city," a metro official told IANS in Bengaluru. Like other state-run transport firms, 'Namma' Metro too suspended its service on March 25 when the lockdown was enforced and extended, forcing thousands of commuters to switch over to alternate transport mode. As the most popular transport mode for its punctual, efficient and cleaner service in air-conditioned coaches, the metro has been ferrying over four lakh commuters on the twin routes, covering 42.3 km across 40 well-lit stations till pre-Covid days. "In addition to wearing masks, we have to ensure commuters maintain physical distance between them and regulate their entry or exit, as only a limited number of them will be allowed in each coach to travel in the metro," said the official. To minimise physical contact with machines, the metro operator is set to insist all commuters switch over to smart cards and avoid tokens for entering the platform and taking the metro ride. "Though the majority of the daily commuters use smart card for travel in the metro, we have hundreds of people across the city and outside buying tokens at counters in all stations to ride in the metro for errands or sight-seeing. We hope many will switch over to smart card, which can be re-charged using our app," said the official. A joint venture of the central and state governments, BMRCL is bracing up to resume its service as per the standard operating procedure (SOP) of the MHA and stringent guidelines of the Union Health Ministry to ensure safe travel for hundreds of commuters in a phased manner. "We have already made a check list of dos and don'ts ahead of resuming the service which are in compliance with the Covid-induced lockdown measures of the centre and state governments," said the official. Every commuter will have thermal screening at the entrance to ensure only those who show negative sign will be allowed into the metro station with mask or facial shield. "Commuters having Arogya Setu app on their smart-phones will be mandatory. Sanitisers will be kept at the entrance of the stations for hand-washing," added the official. As against its capacity of carrying 1,800 commuters in a 6-coach train, the operator will allow 300-350 of them in each trip on its east-west and north-south corridors. Spaces have been earmarked on platforms and inside coaches to maintain social distancing between the commuters to sit or stand while travelling. The operator has incurred Rs 300 crore loss over the last five months due to the suspension of its service to contain the pandemic.

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Germany eyes global health ambitions as U.S. steps back

Berlin is emerging as the likely new global health power but it doesn’t want to go it alone.

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Karnataka BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel tests positive for coronavirus, hospitalised

Coronavirus

Kateel is asymptomatic and has been hospitalised on the advice of doctors.

TNM Staff

Karnataka BJP state president, Nalinkumar Kateel, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Sunday. In a tweet, the leader who is also the Member of Parliament from Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency, said he has been hospitalised following the advice of doctors. However, he does not have any symptoms, he said.   In his tweet, 54 year old Kateel further said he is confident of returning to public life. He urged everyone who got in touch with him in recent days to exercise caution. Kateel has been seen holding several strategy meetings with BJP Karnataka office bearers over the last few weeks.  ನಾನು #COVID19 ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆಗೆ ಒಳಗಾಗಿದ್ದು ವರದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಸಿಟಿವ್ ಎಂದು ಬಂದಿದೆ. ರೋಗಲಕ್ಷಣಗಳಿಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೂ ವೈದ್ಯರ ಸಲಹೆಯ ಮೇರೆಗೆ ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಗೆ ದಾಖಲಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ನಿಮ್ಮ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಆಶೀರ್ವಾದಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಶೀಘ್ರದಲ್ಲೇ ಹಿಂತಿರುಗುವ ವಿಶ್ವಾಸವಿದೆ. ನನ್ನೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸಂಪರ್ಕಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದ ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಜಾಗರೂಕರಾಗಿರಿ ಎಂದು ಮನವಿ ಮಾಡುತ್ತೇನೆ. — Nalinkumar Kateel (@nalinkateel) August 30, 2020 Kateel has also recently finished one year in office as the state BJP president. Kateel was appointed for the post in August, 2019 following the three year tenure of present Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. Nalin has attracted controversies in the past for his hardline Hindutva approach. He had even  made comments supporting Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse and was later reprimanded by the BJP top brass in the Centre . Ahead of  the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, he was facing criticism for his lack of proactiveness in sorting local problems in his constituency with respect to National Highway Authority of India works. He had also faced criticism from the opposition parties for not being vocal against the merger of Vijaya Bank with the Bank of Baroda. However, he emerged victorious at the elections with much ease. He defeated Congress leader Mithun Rai by a margin of 2,74,621 votes This development comes close to the heels of Congress state president DK Shivakumar testing positive for the virus on  Tuesday. Shivakumar was admitted to Suguna hospital in Bengaluru's Rajajinagar. Recently, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and former CM and Leader of Opposition Siddaramiah had recovered from the disease following treatment at the same Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru. Since the onset of the pandemic, Karnataka has reported 3,27,076 COVID-19 cases with fatalities touching up to 5,483. More than 80% if the state’s COVID-19 patients are asympotomatic. 

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Priyank Kharge objects to K’taka CM Yediyurappa taking credit for Koppal toy cluster

Politics

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pitched for India to become the world's ‘toy hub’, in his Mann Ki Baat address on Sunday.

TNM Staff

Former Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge has criticised Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa for misappropriating and taking credit for an upcoming toy manufacturing cluster in the northern district of Koppal. Quoting a tweet by the CM on the ‘Koppala toy manufacturing cluster’, Priyank pointed out that the cluster was approved by the Congress-JDS coalition government.  CM Yediyurappa’s tweet came soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for India to become the world’s toy manufacturing hub, during his 'Mann Ki Baat' address.  Priyank wrote, “Toy cluster project in Koppala was approved by the Congress/JDS coalition Govt. Much before the “vision” of #VocalForLocal. Also Karnataka has close to 50 Geographical Indication Tag products, highest in India. We have been #VocalForLocal long before PM started this #Jumla.” In his tweet, CM Yediyurappa had tweeted that Koppal, which is set to become India’s first ‘toy manufacturing cluster', has the potential to create 40,000 jobs in five years. He also claimed that the project is likely to attract investments worth Rs 5,000 crore. He said the programme is in line with PM Narendra Modi’s Vocal for Local campaign, which aims to create an environment of self-reliance among Indians and the country's businesses to manufacture locally and independently.  - Toy cluster project in Koppala was approved by the Congress/JDS coalition Govt. Much before the “vision” of #VocalForLocal. - Also Karnataka has close to 50 Geographical Indication Tag products, highest in India. We have been #VocalForLocal long before PM started this #Jumla https://t.co/g0xSYYCeZS — Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) August 30, 2020   The Koppal toy cluster initiative was indeed announced by then Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy in September 2018 as part of his ‘Compete with China’ scheme.  Read: 9 K’taka districts to turn manufacturing hubs for HDK’s ‘Compete with China’ scheme Along with Koppal, eight other districts were identified by the state government at that time for manufacturing of items which are largely imported from China at present, due to the price advantage.   The eight other districts included in the scheme were Kalaburgi (for solar power goods), Chitradurga (for LED lights), Hassan (sanitary goods), Mysuru (ICB manufacturing unit), Ballari (textiles), Chikkaballapur (mobile phone components), Tumakuru (sports and fitness goods) and Bidar (agricultural implements). PM Modi in his address on Sunday said that India has the talent and ability to become a toy hub for the entire world. He called for startups to work towards realising this potential while being "vocal about local toys". He said that while the global toy industry is worth over Rs 7 lakh crore, India's share in this is very small.  The Karnataka government is inviting global toymakers to the "first of its kind" toy manufacturing cluster in India at Koppal and had recently held a webinar cum panel discussion with a panel of leading toys manufacturers. Karnataka is poised to emerge as a leading toy-making cluster in the country due to the robust ecosystem the state has created to support toy-making industries, the state government had recently said. With a dedicated push by the government towards toy manufacturing, the state's toy industry has grown at a CAGR (compounded annual growth rate) of 18 per cent (2010-17), and is expected to reach USD 310 million by 2023, it added. Karnataka is the third-largest market for toys in India (USD 159 million), which is 9.1 per cent of the national market. (PTI inputs)

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Watch: Deer rescued from Bengaluru restaurant after being chased by feral dogs

Wildlife

Activists have pointed that feral dogs need to be relocated from the area as they are killing peacocks and deer.

Soumya Chatterjee

Screengrab

In a curious turn of events, the staff of the Karnataka Forest Department and volunteers in Bengaluru rescued a deer stag from a Rajarajeshwari Nagar restaurant on Friday night. According to the volunteers and officials, the deer was chased by feral dogs from the Turahalli Reserve forest in the vicinity and it had taken refuge in an empty site in Krishna Gardens for two days. The rescue operations were initially led by Range Forest Officer (RFO) Gopal and Deputy RFO Naveen, started at 9.35 pm. Though fifteen forest staff and 13 volunteers had encircled the deer with nets, it escaped.  From there, the deer broke loose and ran towards the Uttarahalli-Kengeri Road, close to JSS Engineering Institute, a volunteer in the know said. Eventually, it entered a restaurant where two volunteers, Dileep and Manjunath, were successful in holding onto the deer before forest staff took control of the situation at around 10:10 pm. Videos of the deer getting captured and attended to have been widely shared in social media and personal messaging platforms. After examination by a doctor from People For Animals (PFA) the deer was released into the Turahalli forest. Joseph Hoover, an activist with United Conservation Movement (a non-governmental organisation) and former member of the State Wildlife Board said feral dogs are a major issue in Turahalli Reserve Forest. At least 14 deer have been killed and devoured by these dogs over the last two years. “Deer are being driven by these feral dogs to take refuge in residential areas. We have been asking the forest department to act but they are citing fears of opposition from a section of animal rights activists,” he said. “The forest department is not doing anything to protect wildlife. Not only deer but even peacocks are getting devoured by these dogs. These dogs are not supposed to be entering the forest area and they need to be relocated. These are not wild dogs but neighbourhood street dogs which have taken to hunting in packs. They get into the forest wherever the fencing or the walls are damaged. We are not saying that the dogs be killed but they must be relocated as we need to preserve the little bit of wildlife that is left,” he added.

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Karnataka reports 8324 new COVID-19 cases, 2994 are from Bengaluru

Coronavirus

Bengaluru currently has 37,315 active COVID-19 cases.

PTI

Representational image

Bengaluru Urban district reported 2,993 fresh coronavirus cases and 25 deaths on Saturday. With this, the city has cumulatively reported 1,24,442 cases and 1,911 deaths till date due to the coronavirus. There are currently 37,315 active cases in Bengaluru, with 285 patients being admitted to ICUs in the city. Karnataka on Sunday has reported 8,324 fresh cases statewide, taking the tally to 3,27,076 whereas fatalities touched 5,483 with 115 fresh deaths, the health department said The total infections comprised 2,35,128 discharges including 8,110 today. There were 86,446 active cases in the state including 721 in the ICU, the department said in a statement There were cumulatively 85,215 discharges in the city, including 2,174 on Saturday. According to the health bulletin, 468 fresh COVID-19 cases were reported in Ballari, 333 in Shivamogga, 325 in Hassan, 319 in Davangere, 309 in Mysuru, 290 in Dharwad, 276 in Belagavi, 272 in Dakshina Kannada and 238 in Koppal. Bagalkote, Bengaluru Rural, Gadag, Kalaburagi, Chikkamagaluru, Chikkaballapura and Udupi were among the districts which also reported fresh COVID-19 cases. The department said 11 deaths due to coronavirus were reported today in Mysuru, nine each in Dharwad and Haveri, seven in Dakshina Kannada, six in Hassan, five each in Shivamogga and Tumakuru. Deaths were also reported in Bagalkote, Belagavi, Chikkamagaluru, Davangere, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Kolar, Koppal and Mandya. While a majority of those who died were above 50 years, there were young people who succumbed to the infection. There were two people in their teens (14 and 17), who hailed from Mysuru, six in their thirties and 11 in their 40s who succumbed to the disease. Most of those who died of coronavirus had Severe Acute Respiratory Illness or Influenza-Like Illness. The department said as of today, 3,98,584 lakh people were home quarantined whereas, in the past 14 days, 3.72 lakh primary contacts and 3.16 lakh secondary contacts have been traced. There were as many as 72,684 tests done on Saturday, taking the total tests done so far to 27.86 lakh, the department added.

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Bengaluru police rescue 11-year-old boy from kidnappers in 24 hours

Crime

The kidnapper had demanded Rs 2 crore from the boy’s father, who immediately filed a complaint with the police.

IANS

Bengaluru top cop with the team who rescued the boy

An 11-year-old boy, Mohammad Umar, was rescued from the clutches of a gang of kidnappers within 24 hours of his abduction with the Bengaluru police also nabbing all the six accused.  "The gang kidnapped the boy from outside his house in the city centre on Thursday evening on the pretext of buying kites for him and drove him to Tumakuru in a car at night. The gang's kingpin called his father on the same night and asked him to pay up Rs 2 crore as a ransom for returning his son," Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant told reporters. As Umar is fond of kites and was familiar with the kingpin, who also lives in the same locality, he went with him on his bike to buy kites from a shop in Shivajinagar. "Instead of taking Umar back to his house, the gang bundled him into a car and drove to Tumakuru at night along with 4 accomplices," added the Bengaluru top cop. Tumakuru is about 70 km northwest of Bengaluru in the southern state. The kingpin warned Umar's father not to complain to the police if he wanted his son back alive but the latter immediately filed a complaint in the local police station. "As the kingpin was familiar with Umar's family and knew that his father was a well-to-do businessman, he plotted to abduct the boy for Rs 2 crore ransom and roped in 5 of his friends for executing the crime," said Pant. On the way to Tumakuru from the city, the gang gave Umar a soft drink laced with some sedative. "On the basis of the complaint and details furnished by Umar's father, Additional Police Commissioner (East) S Murugan formed teams to locate the gang. Using surveillance, the teams located the place where the gang kept Umar and raided the spot at Tumakuru," said Pant. When three of the abductors tried to escape, they were chased and overpowered and Umar was rescued unharmed. "On interrogation, the accused gave details of the kingpin's whereabouts. When our raiding team confronted him at his house in the city, he tried to escape and attacked the team members, which opened fire in self-defence. The kingpin got injured but is safe," Pant added. Lauding the police team for rescuing the boy and arresting the gang within 24 hours, Pant announced Rs 50,000 award for the team members.

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Ragini Dwivedi lashes out at TV anchor who said 'actresses use drugs for anti-aging'

Controversy

The anchor was taking responses from various Sandalwood personalities about a recent drug bust when he made the statement.

TNM Staff

Kannada actor Ragini Dwivedi has taken to task Public TV, a Kannada news channel, after one of its anchors made misogynistic remarks about women actors in Sandalwood, and for targeting her on television. On Saturday morning, the news channel, which was broadcasting a bulletin related to the recent drug bust conducted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), had called actor Ragini Dwivedi for a reaction.  Two days ago, the NCB had busted an inter-state drug racket and seized huge amounts of ecstasy in Bengaluru and Pune. Three accused were arrested in Bengaluru and Tumakuru. Following this, the NCB had issued a statement which said that actors and musicians from Karnataka were under the NCB’s scanner for alleged drug use.  The news channel was reportedly procuring reactions from various personalities in Sandalwood on Saturday morning. During the bulletin, the anchor of the channel, MR Arvind, said to Ragini via a telephonic conversation, “But women actors inject drugs into their faces for anti-aging." To this, the actor lashed out and said, “Where did you get such information from?” Ragini was then disconnected from the phone call.  “Mr Arvind (anchor) sits on the show and speaks without getting any facts right, talks about ANTI-AGING and attaches it with drug (use) and when asked to clarify and authenticate his statement, he cuts my call,” Ragini tweeted.  @publictvnews you anchor MR Arvind is sitting on your esteemed channel and talking without and homework and knowledge about actresses and anti-aging only for the purposes of his fame and trp... i need an explanation to where his information is coming from ..(contd) — Ragini Dwivedi (@raginidwivedi24) August 29, 2020 She further demanded action against the anchor. “Anchor MR Arvind is sitting on your esteemed channel and talking without doing homework or knowledge about actresses and anti-aging. To demean actresses, he said and I quote 'actresses use drugs on skin for anti-aging'. I said, 'I need clarity on this immediately.' When I asked for clarity, your channel cut my call hence to put it out there pls EXPLAIN this theory (sic),” Ragini tweeted.  @publictvnews to demean actress he said and I quote “ actress use drugs on skin for anti-aging “I need a clarity on this immediately .. When I asked for clarity your channel cut my call hence to put it out there pls EXPLAIN this theory — Ragini Dwivedi (@raginidwivedi24) August 29, 2020 The actor demanded that the news channel issue a clarification on the matter and asked that they get their facts right before broadcasting information on television. She also condemned the anchor’s question and said that the channel was putting down women in Sandalwood by asking such questions. “Request Public TV to take immediate action on half knowledge anchors or hosts ... This needs to be done for the respect of women in the industry and in general (sic),” she said.  Soon after Ragini put out a series of tweets, the news channel published a story claiming that Ragini had lashed out against filmmaker Indrajit Lankesh. During Saturday’s broadcast, the channel had also called Indrajit Lankesh, who had said that parties and drug use occur in the film industry.   “When asked for clarity about statements related to anti-aging from your anchor who is sitting at a public forum and making uneducated statements about scientific terms, you have started a new controversy on me. Must be so, so proud of your actions,” Ragini tweeted, along with a screenshot of the bulletin on the news channel.  WOW @publictvnews when asked for a clarity about ANTI AGING FACTS from your anchor who is sitting at a public forum uneducated about scientific terms he makes .you have started a new controversy on me only ... must be so so proud of you actions pic.twitter.com/GXQmH2Tp0g — Ragini Dwivedi (@raginidwivedi24) August 29, 2020 “Drugs as an issue should be resolved at the earliest. As it is a plague to our society. As the dealers have been now captured, (I am) congratulating the narcotics bureau who have done this work and requesting them to get to the (bottom) of this circuit for the good of all (sic),” she added.

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Bengaluru woman burns 2-yr-old grandson's face and hands for crying

Crime

The SG Palya police arrested the grandmother Mubbashira on Saturday.

TNM Staff

Representation photo

An incident of child abuse has come to light in Bengaluru where a two-year-old boy was allegedly beaten and suffered burn injuries on his body inflicted by his grandmother. The incident occurred in the city's Sudduguntepalya, on Friday. Investigating officers said that the mother, Hajira, had gone to her maternal home in SG Palya a month ago, as she was due to give birth to another child. Hajira and her husband Irfad, who is a daily-wage worker, have five children. While three of her older sons stayed back with Irfad in Gurappanapalya, she had brought her two-year-old boy along with her to her maternal home in Sadduguntepalya. Twenty days ago, Hajira gave birth to another baby boy and was living with her mother Mubbashira.  On Friday, the two-year-old boy allegedly began crying for his father. When Hajira tried to pacify him, he allegedly did not stop crying and kept asking for his father, the SG Palya police inspector Ramesh told TNM. "The grandmother Mubbashira began hitting the boy. She even burnt his face and body with put out matches. She kept hitting him and telling him to stop crying but the boy did not. In order to stop him from crying, they taped the boy's mouth and then beat him," Inspector Ramesh added.  The boy fell unconscious and it was then that Hajira allegedly called her husband Irshad, who rushed to the spot. The boy was rushed to Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, where he is currently undergoing treatment.  Irshad then filed a complaint with the Suddugunte Palya police, after which an FIR was registered against Mubbashira and Hajira under section 326 (causing grievous hurt with a deadly weapon) of the Indian Penal Code, read with section 23 (whoever, having the actual charge of, or control over, a juvenile or the child, assaults, abandons, exposes or wilfully neglects the juvenile or causes or procures him to be assaulted) of the Juvenile Justice Act.  While the police arrested Mubbashira on Saturday, they did not arrest Hajira as she is nursing the 20-day-old baby boy. The custody of the two-year-old will be given to his father Irshad after he is discharged, Inspector Ramesh said. "The child is out of danger now and will be discharged in a day or two. So far, we have learned that Hajira and Irshad fell in love and got married a few years ago. When the little boy kept asking for Irshad, Mubbashira got angry and is said to have told him that he cannot go to his father. When the child insisted, she started hitting him," he added.  

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DySP Ganapathy death: Special court orders fresh case against Cong MLA KJ George

Court

The development comes after the court rejected the CBI's closure report.

TNM Staff

In a major setback for former Congress minister KJ George, the Special Court for Legislators and Parliamentarians in Bengaluru on Friday ordered that a case be registered against him for his alleged role in the death of DySP Ganapathy. The Special court also ordered cases to be registered against two IPS officers accused in the case. Judge TN Inavally said that there is scope for investigation in DySP Ganapathy’s death case. This comes after the Central Bureau of Investigation submitted a closure report to the court in October last year, CNN News18 reported.  The court ordered that a case be registered under sections 306 (abetment of suicide with common intention) along with 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. Nehal Ganapathy, son of the deceased officer, had moved the special court.  Ganapathy was working as a DySP in Mangaluru and died after taking his life on July 7, 2016 at Sree Vinayak Lodge in Madikeri. Before he took the step, Ganapathy had told local media that KJ George and two IPS officers were harassing him. The prime accused in the case was the then Home Minister KJ George, Pronab Mohanty, who was at the time the IGP Lokayukta and AM Prasad, who is now the DGP, Home Guards and Civil Defence and was then serving as ADGP Intelligence, were allegedly harassing him. He had also said that “if he dies, the three men would be responsible for it.”  In October last year, the CBI had submitted to the court in Madikeri that there was no evidence indicating that the three accused were responsible for the death of DySP Ganapathy. However, the Special Court rejected the CBI’s closure report and dismissed the petition filed by the investigating officer to close the case, TNIE reported.  After his death in 2016, upon the family’s request, the CID was tasked with probing the case. The CID had filed a closure report stating that there was no evidence against the accused to indicate that they were responsible for Ganapathy’s death. The family had subsequently moved the Supreme Court and the case was transferred to the CBI, which also gave the accused a clean chit. The CID, which probed Ganapathy's death, had stated that distress in his professional and personal life, the suicide of a colleague DySP Kallappa Handibag on July 5, 2016, and mental health problems were reasons for Ganapathy's death. The CID had maintained that neither KJ George nor the two IPS officers maintained any contacts with Ganapathy in the days leading up to his death.  

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Former national athletics coach Purushottam Rai, who trained Olympians, dies at 79

Death

He died just a day before the award was to be conferred to him.

TNM Staff

Veteran athletics coach Purshottam Rai died due to a cardiac arrest on Friday, just a day before he was to be conferred with the prestigious Dronacharya Award. Purushottam Rai was 79 years old. "He took part in the rehearsal for the National Sports Awards but later suffered a heart attack and passed away," a top Athletics Federation of India official told PTI. The National Sports Awards ceremony will be held virtually on Saturday due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rai was to receive the Dronacharya Award from President Ram Nath Kovind in the lifetime achievement category. Purushottam Rai coached top athletes such as Olympian quartermiler Vandana Rao, heptathlete Pramila Aiyappa, Ashwini Nachappa, Murali Kuttan, M K Asha, E B Shyla, Rosa Kutty and G G Pramila. "It is a tragic incident and we at AFI are shocked. He spent his whole life for athletics and he made immense contributions to Indian athletics. We condole his tragic demise and express our condolences to his family," said AFI president Adille Sumariwalla. Rai began his coaching career after securing a diploma from Netaji Institute of Sports in 1974. "He was a good coach under whom many top Indian athletes, including many Olympians, had trained. It is such a sad incident to pass away just a day before receiving the award," said former long-jump Anju Bobby George, one of India's star athletes Rai also coached the Indian team for the 1987 World Athletics Championship, 1988 Asian Track and Field Championships and 1999 SAF Games. He was also involved in coaching roles at Services, Department of Youth Empowerment & Sports (DYES), and Sports Authority of India (SAI).   "Mr. Rai was a dedicated coach between 1980-90. He trained many national and international athletes at Sri Kanteerava Stadium. He was the third coach to receive this award in Karnataka. Earlier the late N Lingappa and last year VR Beedu were awarded. Our sympathies are with his family, may God give him strength in this hour of grief," Karnataka Athletics Association said in a statement.  (With PTI inputs)

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Protests erupt in Karnataka's Belagavi over installation of Sangolli Rayanna statue

Controversy

Police resorted to lathicharge on Friday after two groups of protesters clashed.

PTI

Tension prevailed at a village in Belagavi district bordering Maharashtra on Friday, with a section of people objecting to installation of a statue of 18th century warrior and freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna. Protests were staged after the installation of Sangolli Rayanna's statue at Peeranwadi. Pro-Kannada activists celebrated the move, while several people, who speak Marathi gathered around the statue and staged protests.  After the two sides exchanged a war of words, the police resorted to lathi charge to bring the situation under control. According to official sources, some admirers of Rayanna installed his statue at a road junction in Peeranwadi during the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. A section of others raised objections as the news spread, leading to tension in the area. Those objecting, largely Marathi speaking, were opposed to the location where they wanted to install a statue of Maratha ruler Shivaji, after whom the circle is named. They also have apprehensions that its name too may be changed in future. Realising that the situation was turning tense with some skirmish breaking out, police used batons to disperse the gathered crowd. According to officials, they also tried to calm the protesters stating that the statue has been installed without requisite permission and the issue can be dealt with legally. An FIR has been booked in this regard and action will be taken, they said. Additional forces have been called in to avoid the situation spiralling out of control. Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in Bengaluru said he has spoken to Belagavi Deputy Commissioner and other officials and has given them necessary instructions. "I have told officials that without differentiating between Kannadigas and Marathi people, the situation should be handled delicately and issues should be resolved... everything is peaceful now, everyone is cooperating. I thank the people for this.. everything will be resolved," he told reporters. Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said police have taken stringent measures to control the situation and that he has spoken to Belagavi Police Commissioner and IG, also ADGP Law and Order is visiting the area. Later in a tweet, Bommai said, "the state government is in favour of Kannadigas and was committed to protect their interest. I have asked ADGP (L&O) to look into the FIR lodged by the police at Peeranwadi. He is already at the spot and I have instructed him to hold a peace meet and resolve the issue in a cordial manner." ADGP (L&O) Amar Kumar Pandey, who visited the spot said efforts are on to find a peaceful solution. "the situation developed in the morning has been attended by the city (Belagavi) police.... three cases have been registered and investigation will follow," he added. On August 15, police thwarted attempts to install Rayanna's statue there, citing absence of permission from the authorities for the same, and also Supreme Court directions against such moves near highways. This had led to protests in different parts of Karnataka by pro-Kannada organisations, especially in Belagavi, which has a sizeable Marathi-speaking population. District in-charge Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi had said on Thursday a decision to install the statue will be taken on August 29 within legal parameters and as per the guidelines of Apex Court. Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he has spoken to Belagavi District in-charge Minister, Deputy Commissioner and Police Commissioner, and asked them to deal with the situation carefully. Alleging that the government by neglecting the Sangolli Rayanna statue issue has allowed it to become controversial, in a statement he said there can be no compromise on the issue of state's land, water, language and people who are its pride. "I also appeal to Kannada organisations and admirers of Rayanna to be patient and cooperate in resolving the issue," he added. JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy hit out at a section of Marathi people for protesting against the statue of Rayanna and said there is no need for anyone else's approval for installing the statue of a great freedom fighter. In a series of tweets, he said whether it is Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti or Shiv Sena or someone else, if anyone insults Rayanna, the brave son of this land, it is like testing the patience of Kannadigas, and warned that they don't tolerate such things.   "There can be no compromise on the issue of the state's land, water, language and border..," he added.   Meanwhile, the state BJP condemned the act of violence by the workers of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) and Shiv Sena at Peeranwadi.   Noting that BJP was of the firm view that both Shivaji Maharaj and Sangolli Rayanna can co-exist in Karnataka, party spokesperson Captain Ganesh Karnik in a statement said any opposition to erect the statue of Rayanna was 'meaningless' and 'reprehensible.'   "BJP feels that a few vested interests are making desperate attempts to foment trouble in the otherwise peaceful border city of Belagavi.   We appeal to the people of Belagavi to respect everybodys sentiments and not to give room for strife and violence," he added.   Sangolli Rayanna (1798-1831) was the army chief of the erstwhile Kittur Kingdom ruled by Rani Chennamma and fought against the British who hanged him to death from a Banyan tree near Nandagad in Belagavi district in 1831.  

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