Authorities struggle to find leopard that's been entering Bengaluru apartment for days

Wildlife

The leopard was seen entering a residential complex off Bengaluru’s Bannerghatta on January 29.

TNM Staff

Representative Image

The elusive leopard, which was last seen at an apartment complex in Bengaluru last week, was spotted there again on Friday, January 29. It was sighted on the premises of Prestige Song, a residential society off Bengaluru’s Bannerghatta. On January 24, when it was spotted first, it created a scare among the residents of the building as well as others in the neighbouring areas of Begur and Koppa near the Hulimavu lake. The police, along with the forest department, had formed teams to comb the area in a bid to capture the big cat and release it back into the wild.  “The leopard was sighted again around 3 am on Friday. However, we couldn’t take any action since the team from Bannerghatta National Park doctors, who could sedate the big cat, was not present at the time of the incident. We have set up cages at four different points nearby to trap the animal, which could be wandering in the caves and terrains nearby, and to release it back into the wild,” said Deputy Forest Range Officer Harsha, who was present at the location during the sighting. When the leopard was first spotted on January 24, it was believed that it strayed and entered the building. The CCTV camera footage accessed from the apartment then had shown the big cat crossing a road within the apartment complex. Since then, the video has been doing the rounds on social media platforms, including WhatsApp.  After the incident, the officials had set up camera traps and were using drones to trace the leopard. Harsha and the team have been constantly monitoring the area.  The officer added that they cannot do much in sending the wild cat back into the forest because of fears over losing it into the dark. Besides, according to the Standard Operating Protocols issued by Karnataka’s Forest Department, no animal can be sedated in an open space after 6 pm, said the head of the Bannerghatta National Park team, Dr Umashankar.  “There are chances that the shot of tranquilliser may kill the animal. The drugs are very potent, which start showing effects quickly. Using it in open space when it is dark, can cause the loss of the wild animal,” said Dr Umashankar, adding that the team is trying to assist the police as best as possible. However, the distress among the residents has been mounting with the leopard still roaming around in the vicinity. The residents alleged that they have been sighting the leopard every day; although no untoward incident has been reported so far. The residents reportedly said that the big cat has been coming at night to use the compound to move between two sites. The residents are planning to increase the height of their compound wall and fix a barbed wire to prevent such incidents in future.

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Six held for rape and trafficking of 15-yr-old girl in Karnataka’s Chikkamagaluru

Crime

The FIR registered in Sringeri police station accused more than 15 people of rape and sexual abuse of the minor.

Prajwal Bhat

Image for representation

Six people have been arrested for the rape, sexual abuse and trafficking of a 15-year-old girl in Karnakta’s Chikkamagaluru district. A first information report was registered at the Sringeri police station in the district after a complaint by the district child welfare committee accused more than 15 people of rape and sexual abuse of the minor.  Speaking to TNM, Chikkamagaluru SP Hakay Akshay Machindra told TNM that six people were arrested in the case. The complaint by Subramanya G, who heads the child welfare committee in Chikkamagaluru, stated that Small Abhi, a local resident, Girish, a driver and his friends had allegedly raped and sexually abused the girl in the last five months. Those accused include the survivor's aunt Vidya* after it emerged that she had known about the repeated sexual abuse. "Vidya solicited her into this and others who allegedly sexually abused her regularly have also been arrested. The investigation is underway and we will follow up the allegations made by the girl," Hakay Akshay Machindra said. Vidya, the survivor’s aunt, works at a crushing unit located close to their home. According to the child welfare committee, the survivor has been living with Vidya since her mother passed away around three years ago. In September 2020, the girl was allegedly asked to work for a few days at the crushing unit in place of her aunt when she fell ill. Her work was clerical and involved noting down numbers of vehicles. It was here that she met Girish, a driver, who allegedly raped her. According to the complainant, Girish then brought other friends along with him to sexually abuse and rape the girl. This included Chikka Abhi or Small Abhi, a resident in Kikre village of Chikkamagaluru.  "Girish would tell her that she has to spend time with other men. There is an allegation she was given birth control pills twice in this period," said Subramanya.  He added that the survivor was blackmailed with photos by the group of men and warned against complaining about the abuse. "There are many more people who were not named in the FIR because the survivor could not recognise them. The police should investigate this thoroughly," Subramanya added. The incident came to light on Thursday and the survivor was rescued and is now being counselled.  The accused in the case are Girish, driver, Small Abhi, Vikas, Manikanta, Sampath, Ashwath Gowda, Rajesh, Amith, Santosh, Deekshit, Niranjan, Narayana Gowda, Abhi Gowda, Yogesh and Vidya, the survivor's aunt.  The FIR was registered in Sringeri police station and the accused members were charged under sections 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 370 (trafficking), 376 (3) (rape), 376 (n) (repeated rape) of the Indian Penal Code. They have also been booked under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Immoral Traffic Prevention Act and Child Labour Amendment Act, and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children Act). 'MGR Crushers' has been named in the FIR and its owner has been booked.  *Name changed to protect identity of the survivor

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Aero India: Drones, paragliders, balloons barred in Bengaluru from Feb 1 to 8

Aero India 2021

Aero India 2021 is scheduled to be held from February 3 to 5 at the Yelahanka Air Force Base in Bengaluru.

TNM Staff

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant on Saturday prohibited flying of all sub-conventional aerial platforms like Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), drones and balloons, among others, in the city from February 1 to 8. The decision comes ahead of Aero India 2021, the biennial air show and aviation exhibition, which will be held from February 3 to 5 in Bengaluru. Flying of all sub-conventional aerial platforms such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Robotic Process Automation, paragliders, micro-lights, small aircraft, drones, QuadCopters and balloons are prohibited within the limits of Bengaluru City Police Commissionerate from February 1 to 8, Police Commissioner Kamal Pant said in an order issued on Saturday. Aero India 2021, the 13th edition of the air show and exhibition, is scheduled to be held from February 3 to 5 at the Yelahanka Air Force Base in the city's northern part. As a large number of delegates are expected to attend the event, all necessary security measures have already been put in place for the safety of the infrastructure and people at the venue. As part of the security measures, it is considered necessary to ban the flying of all sub-conventional aerial platforms, as they can be used to threaten, damage, harm people and properties on the premises of the event, the Commissioner said in the order. Aero India was last held in 2019. Among the highlights of the 13th edition, a B-1B Lancer heavy bomber of the 28th Bomb Wing based out of Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, United States, will perform a "fly-by".  The British defence company BAE Systems said it will showcase advanced platforms and weapon systems at the exhibition. In a press release, it said it will showcase a model of advanced trainer aircraft Hawk and laser-guided rocket APKWS at the exhibition that would be held in Bengaluru from February 3 to 5.

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Bengaluru to host air show Aero India 2021 on Feb 3: Three main highlights

Aero India 2021

The 13th edition of Aero India will have some protocols in place, including the mandatory COVID-19 test negative report.

TNM Staff

Airman First Class James Miller

The 13th edition of Aero India, touted to be the first global air show amidst the pandemic, is set to begin on February 3. The biennale air show and exhibition, hosted by the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Exhibition Organisation, will be held at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru. During this show, manufacturers and service providers from the Indian aerospace and aviation industry meet potential buyers of their products.  In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, apart from the prerequisite protocols like wearing masks and sanitising hands, visitors will also have to do an RT-PCR test 72 hours prior to the event. Only those with a COVID-19 negative test report will be allowed entry. Ticket purchase and registration to attend the exhibition virtually can be done here. There will be a lot to witness during the three-day event, which is India’s first hybrid air show, where delegates will be able to participate physically as well as virtually. Here are the three highlights of Aero India’s latest edition. HAL displays There will be a unique flying display of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited or HAL’s indigenous platforms (both fixed and rotary wing), titled ‘Aatmanirbhar Formation Flight’. Comprising HAL products such as LCA trainer (LIFT Trainer), HTT-40, IJT, Advanced Hawk Mk 132 and Civil Do-228 will fly in a special formation, showcasing the spectrum of trainers and signifying self-sufficiency in the trainer segment. HTT-40, Advanced Hawk Mk 132 and Civil Do-228 will be available for customer demonstration flights. Sukhoi 30 MKI, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) will also take part in the flying display. The static display will include Do 228, Hindustan Turbo Trainer (HTT)-40 and LUH and ALH Mk III. HAL’s major attraction at HALL-E will be the Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) simulator. The simulator will have TEJAS–MAX cockpit as the mother-ship platform.  The immersive visualisation of the mission will be projected on a wider screen. American Heavy Bomber Fly-by An American B-1B Lancer heavy bomber will perform a fly-by at the Aero India 2021. Of the 28 Bomb Wing based out of Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, this bomber has the largest conventional payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the US Air Force. Considered the backbone of America’s long-range bomber force, B-1B has been built to rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against enemies anywhere in the world. The bomber has as many as 50 world records for speed, payload, range, and time of climb in its class. The heavy bomber’s fly-by symbolises the deepening of Indo-US defence and strategic planning between the countries. “US participation in Aero India 2021 reflects our increasingly close bilateral defence ties and our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” read the statement released by the US Consulate. US Air Force Band In addition to the fly-by, the US Air Force Band of the Pacific, which is based in Hawaii, is all set to perform at the event, along with Indian percussion (ghatam) artist Giridhar Udupa. The US Embassy has also decided to broadcast the performance — being performed in the spirit of bilateral support for India’s first hybrid defence exhibition — on a later date.

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Karnataka schools miffed with order to slash fees, say may go to court

Education

On Friday, Education Minister S Suresh Kumar had said schools cannot ask parents to pay more than 70% of the tuition fees for the academic year 2020-2021.

Soumya Chatterjee

Representative Image/ PTI

Private school managements in Bengaluru and across Karnataka are up in arms over the unilateral, steep fee cut ordered by the state government on Friday. School associations are also considering approaching the courts over the matter, citing that the resulting fund crunch will mean that they will not be able to pay their staff fully. Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar on Friday had said that schools cannot ask parents to pay more than 70% of the tuition fees for the academic year 2020-2021. Further, schools have been ordered not to take any other payments such as development fees from parents for the current year, above the tuition fee. An order to the same effect was passed on Saturday. Read: Karnataka govt orders schools to slash fees for academic year 2020-2021 Even if parents have already paid such fees or tuition fees in excess of 70%, schools have been asked to refund the amount, or adjust it with the coming school year’s fees. “With respect to the 30% fee cut ordered by the state government, it will be actually around 50-60% of the fee that gets cut for schools who charge Rs 25,000 yearly for students. We do not know on what factors the government has decided this cut. This is because they have already curtailed development fees, term fees and special development fees; and the yearly increment has already been cut,” Sashi Kumar, President of the Associated Management of Primary and Secondary School (KAMS) said. He added, “For most schools, entry-level admissions have not taken place for classes like LKG, UKG or first standard at all. All these deficits result in a cash crunch. Is it that the government wants private schools to pay only 50% of the salaries to the teachers and non-teaching staff? We may have to approach the courts, or the government has to come up with a solution rather than making this mess.” M Srinivasan, president of the CBSE Schools Association, claimed that the state government cannot enforce this order due to an ongoing litigation at the Karnataka High Court.  “We are considering all options and exploring if we should go to the courts again. Already we had approached the HC, challenging the state government’s amendment which has brought non-state board schools under the state government’s ambit. In that case, the HC in an interim order had said that the state government cannot take any coercive action until the court settles the matter,” he said. He added, “We have already lost more than 25-30% of our revenue, if you account for the 20-30% of parents who have anyway not paid the fees. Expense-wise, we have not saved money on anything other than transportation, for which most schools have voluntarily given part of the fees back to parents. How do we go and refund the money that parents have already paid, as we have spent it on salaries?” School managements said that instead of taking a unilateral decision, the government could have held discussions with both school managements and parents.   Srinivasan claimed that instead of this blanket fee cut, the government could have helped those parents who are struggling financially. “We need to help parents who cannot afford to pay, and we have already been doing so. But for parents who are ready to support the school and can do it, why is the government stopping this?” he asked.  

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New CM for Karnataka after Ugadi: BJP MLA Yatnal’s fresh claim

Politics

Yatnal has been openly critical of Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa for the past few months.

TNM Staff

Senior BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal on Saturday once again talked about a leadership change in Karnataka, saying a new Chief Minister will assume office after Ugadi on April 13, the day the state celebrates New Year as per the Hindu calendar. The Bijapur city MLA, who has been openly critical of Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa for some time now, even indicated that the new CM will be from the northern part of the state. "I will not go with open hands seeking a Minister's post here onwards. I have said one of our own will come in place (of CM) who can give the Minister's post. I have said that someone from north Karnataka will come..it will happen...wait and watch," Yatnal told reporters in Vijayapura. "...This will be very soon, as you (media person) said Ugadi... for the new year, new (CM)," he added. The former Union minister has for some time now repeatedly been speaking out against Yediyurappa and his style of functioning. He had in October said that Yediyurappa would not remain Chief Minister for long and the high command had decided that his successor would be from the north Karnataka region. He had also recently indicated the possibility of historical changes in the state after Sankranti. During the meeting of party legislators earlier this month, Yatnal reportedly had a face-off with Yediyurappa, as he objected to the "step-motherly" treatment meted out to some assembly constituencies and alleged interference of the CM's son B Y Vijayendra in the administration. Despite warnings by the BJP leadership against making statements in public on issues relating to the party and leaders, Yatnal had, after the cabinet expansion earlier this month, accused the Chief Minister of making appointments under blackmail without considering seniority or honesty. Read: Karnataka BJP leader says high command looking to replace CM Yediyurappa Also, there has been intense speculation in some quarters that the BJP high command is mulling a leadership change in Karnataka in the days to come considering Yediyurappa's age (77 years). Though the state BJP has rejected outright such speculations, it refuses to die down, with some in the party like Yatnal giving credence to it with their statements. Yatnal has publicly spoken out against BS Yediyurappa for some time now and in October 2020, he had claimed that Yediyurappa will be removed as Chief Minister and replaced by a leader from north Karnataka.

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Maryland confirms case of Covid-19 variant from South Africa

The news comes after South Carolina announced the first two U.S. cases of the variant Thursday.

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CDC issues rule requiring travelers to wear face masks

The CDC’s new order goes further than an executive order signed by President Joe Biden last week.

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5 docs in Karnataka get COVID after first vaccine shot, health officials allay fears

COVID-19

The vaccines being provided in India are effective only after the second shot is given. Doctors say people who get the first shot should continue to follow all precautions.

Soumya Chatterjee

IMAGE FOR REPRESENTATION: PTI

Five doctors in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district have tested positive for the novel coronavirus a week after they were administered the first shot of COVID-19 vaccine. However, health authorities and experts have said that this does not mean that the vaccine is ineffective. The Union government and other health authorities in the country have said that both vaccines (Covaxin and Covershield) approved for use in India will be effective only after the second shot, which is to be given 28 days after the first shot. This means that those who receive the first shot of the vaccine should follow all precautions like wearing masks, hand washing and avoiding crowded areas. Further, experts advise that even those who are fully vaccinated — that is, those who have received both shots of the vaccine — should follow all precautions until a significant percentage of the population has been vaccinated. In this instance, local health officials say that it is highly likely that the five doctors had contracted the virus prior to getting the first jab. “All the five doctors are attached to the district hospital and the government medical college here. They are in the 40-50 age group and have mild symptoms. Of the five, some took Covishield while some of them were given by Covaxin last week,” Dr MC Ravi, District Health Officer, Chamrajanagara, told TNM. He added, “It is highly likely that their incubation period of catching the virus had started before they took the vaccine. They were tested only after they started showing symptoms. This issue is not related to vaccination and we are tracing contacts of these doctors.” Experts speak Dr Jacob John, a noted virologist and former professor at Christian Medical College in Vellore, said this development is not surprising. “The vaccine first dose induces immunity very partially only about two weeks later, and that too is yet to be defined very well due to lack of experience. Partial immune response will mean that a serious disease will be rendered milder. But here, the two week period was not available. It is only 5-10 days after the second dose, that the efficacy for Covishield is in the range of 60-70%,” he said. He added, “Here in this case, it means they were probably infected before, or on the day they were given the vaccine. This is because the incubation period is 5-10 days and sometimes up to 14 days.” He further said that those vaccinated should wear masks and follow other COVID-19 guidelines until two weeks from the second shot. “After that there is a small chance that people are protected from disease but not the infection. A transient infection may occur until the disease is very low in the community. The second reason to wear a mask is for discipline and public education,” he added. When asked if these doctors should be given the second shot at a later date, Dr John said that won’t be necessary and they will probably be better protected from getting the infection. Health dept to review development Dr Rajani Nageshrao, State Deputy Director (Immunisation) told TNM that she has sought details on how and when the doctors were given the vaccine shot and when they contracted the infection. She said after gathering the details a meeting will be held with Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare Department, and other officials regarding this development. As done in other parts of the country, doctors and other frontline workers are being vaccinated on priority in this first phase of the vaccination drive. According to the state COVID-19 War Room report, Chamarajanagar district has reported 23 cases in the last seven days and has a recovery rate of 97.8% since the onset of the pandemic. The district has a positivity rate of 0.4% and no fatalities in the last 15 days.

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Lifestyle bloggers, TikTokers and docs mount online push to vaccinate America

Health care leaders are relying on social media and local doctors and nurses to battle vaccine skepticism, especially in hard-hit minority communities.

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Polio vaccine for 64 lakh kids in Karnataka on Sunday

Vaccine

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa will flag off the polio drive at his home-office in the city centre on Sunday.

IANS

IMAGE FOR REPRESENTATION: PTI

 Amid the Covid pandemic, Karnataka would give polio vaccine to over 64 lakh children across the state on Sunday, said Health Minister K. Sudhakar on Friday. "In the polio vaccination drive on Sunday, 64,07,930 children in the 0-5 age group will be given the medicine through oral drops. All parents should immunize their children," said Sudhakar in a statement here. As the nationwide anti-Covid vaccination drive was launched on January 16, polio vaccination programme was postponed to January 31 from January 17 even in the southern state. Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa will flag off the polio drive at his home-office in the city centre on Sunday. "Even if children were vaccinated earlier, they have to be vaccinated again. There will not be any side-effect from it for the kids. The country has been polio-free with no case of the infection over the last 10-11 years," said Sudhkar, a medical doctor by profession. The state health department has over 85-lakh doses of polio vaccine and 1.1-lakh vaccinators. "The health department has formed 6,645 supervisor teams, 904 mobile teams and set up 32,908 booths across the state to administer polio drops to kids," said the minister. Meanwhile, state Education Minister S. Suresh Kumar has urged the Centre to give anti-Covid vaccine to teachers in the next round of its drive, as they have been frontline workers in containing the pandemic through field work. "As thousands of teachers played a key role in containing the virus spread, they should be given the vaccine on priority in recognition of their service over the last nine months," Kumar said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan. The teachers were deputed for door-to-door data collection, stressing on the importance of social distancing and assisting healthcare warriors for many allied activities across the state.

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Bengaluru cops book sedition case against Shashi Tharoor, Rajdeep Sardesai and others

Controversy

This is the third such case against them, after they were booked by the Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh police earlier this week.

TNM Staff

The police in Bengaluru have registered a sedition case against former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor, besides journalists including Rajdeep Sardesai, for their tweets on the death of a protester during the Republic Day farmers’ parade in New Delhi. The other accused in the case are Mrinal Pande, Zafar Agha, Paresh Nath, Anant Nath and Vinod K Jose. Other than sedition, they have been also accused of promoting communal disharmony and insulting religious beliefs. This is the third such FIR (First Information Report) filed against these prominent personalities within a week, after the police in Uttar Pradesh (Noida) and Madhya Pradesh also registered sedition cases against them on the same issue.  The Parappana Agrahara police have booked the former minister and journalists under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 506 (criminal intimidation), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 124A (sedition), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration), 295A ( outraging reli­gious feelings and insulting religion) and 298 (uttering, words, with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case was registered on Friday by the Parappana Agrahara police based on a written complaint filed by a Rakesh BS, who identified himself as a social worker. Read:Shashi Tharoor, Rajdeep Sardesai, Vinod K Jose and others booked for sedition Also read: Second FIR against Tharoor, Rajdeep and other journos, this time in Madhya Pradesh Reacting to the FIRs by UP and MP police, the Editors Guild of India had issued a statement condemning the police action and said it was an attempt to "intimidate, harass and stifle" the media. It also asked for such FIRs be withdrawn immediately and said that the media should be allowed to report without fear and with freedom.

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Indigenous fishes have been dwindling in Bengaluru's rivers and lakes

Environment

Experts fear that these varieties could be lost forever as their population has dwindled considerably in recent years.

Girisha

Image for representation: Picxy

Fifteen years ago, Hebbal Lake in Bengaluru was filled with Chelu Meenu, a species of fish known as Singhi in English, with the scientific name Heteropneustes Fossilis. “When harvested, we would find around 50 kg of the fish in a day,” a fisheries officer, who was involved in its production at the time recollected. Today, there are barely any Chelu Meenu left in Hebbal Lake, causing fear that this variety of fish might be gone forever in and around Bengaluru. While wild animals are disappearing from forests owing to destruction of habitat in Karnataka, as many as 32 varieties of indigenous fishes are not to be seen in rivers, lakes and reservoirs in the state. Experts fear that these varieties could be lost forever as their population has dwindled considerably in recent years. Observers say that there was no plan to conserve them so far, and hope that adequate plans are drawn up by concerned officials soon. Along with Chelu Meenu, Kuchu (Magur in English), Korava (Asiatic Snake Head), Cat Fishes, Haavu Meenu (Spiny Eel), Baale Meenu (Fresh Water Shark), Owl Meenu (Giant Snake Head) are some of the other varieties of fishes that are on the decline. A source in the Fisheries Department recalled that Haavu Meenu (Snake fish in English) was so tasty that late Chief Minister Kengal Hanumanthaiah relished eating it as part of his diet. Another fish variety which was often relished was Kuchhu Meenu, but these varieties are hard to find now. Experts said that instead of focusing on indigenous fishes, the Fisheries Department gave a thrust to fast production of fishes, resulting in indigenous varieties vanishing from rivers and lakes. Nowadays, Rohu and Katla among other varieties, all belonging to Ganga river region, have been bred in state fish farms for consumption. Attention has not been given to indigenous varieties, which are making a slow exit from rivers and lakes. Fishes started to dwindle after fisheries officials began to promote the highly predatory African Catfish among farmers, which grow fast and prey on indigenous varieties, making them disappear at a rapid rate, a fisheries officer said. Seemingly unaware of the dangers that the African Catfish could pose to indigenous fishes, the Fisheries Department brought them to Karnataka from Kolkata. These African Catfishes are native to the River Nile in Egypt and started to feed on indigenous fishes and created havoc before the department could sense the danger, according to observers. However, officers are hopeful that indigenous fishes could be revived in the state, provided the fisheries department draws a plan and hatches them, after collecting them from available regions. These indigenous fishes should be developed and released into rivers and lakes to make their numbers grow, experts said, adding that it should be done once they reach adulthood and grow to about 1.5 inches, to enable breeding. Another reason for indigenous fishes vanishing is unscientific fishing by fishermen, an official said, adding that there were specifications for fishermen to use fishing nets to catch fishes but not all fishermen adhere to the rules and have smaller fishing nets smaller, that catch small fishes, causing their numbers to drop in rivers and lakes. Recently, retired fisheries officer MF Rahman submitted a representation to the Karnataka government, asking it to take steps to revive the population of indigenous fishes in reservoirs, rivers and lakes but nothing substantial has happened, he said. “I have gathered details of each indigenous fish and given it to the state government to revive them in farms but the report has been gathering dust,” Rahman said. When contacted, Joint Director of Fisheries department, Mysuru Narayan said that, “If Karnataka Veterinary, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Sciences University officials come forward to conserve these dwindling indigenous fishes, then Fisheries Department would extend all support to conserve these fishes, before it is too late.” Girisha is a freelancer who writes on wildlife and forests.

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K'taka to come out with new sandmining policy for coastal region

Environment

The minister said that policy will be brought in primarily to counter shortage of sand.

IANS

IMAGE FOR REPRESENTATION: PTI

Karnataka said that it would take steps to introduce a separate sand policy for the coastal region of the state, as per the long-standing demand of the people. Responding to questions during question hour in Assembly here, Mines and Geology Minister Murugesh Rudrappa Nirani said on Friday that a separate sand policy will be introduced to help the people of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada districts in the coastal region. "The construction activities are affected in many parts of the state due to shortage of sand. The government will take necessary steps to prevent such problems in any part of the state," Nirani added. The minister said the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) authority has been instructed to clear 13 sand mounds located along river beds coming under its jurisdiction in 2020-21. "A seven-member District Sand Monitoring Committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner will issue temporary permits to 104 applicants to extract sand from 13 sand mounds for a year," he said. He added that the department had taken a decision to clear the sand mounds along the riverbeds in the CRZ as per the receiving directives from the Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change. "The Mines and Geology department would consider only those having temporary permits to clear the sand mounds of 2011-12 and a couple of years prior to that along the riverbeds in the CRZ. The minister said that the state government's aim is to supply quality sand at market price to the people in order to boost construction activities. In a statement released by his office here, he also added that - Mines Adalats - would also be held across the state under which he, along with department officials, would go to divisions to resolve the issues on the spot. Nirani claimed that he has been holding district and state-level meetings with officials after assuming power and was aware of the problems faced by people due to shortage of sand, as he promised to ensure its availability without further delay. Legislators like Venkata Rao Nadagouda of JD(S), BJP's Raghpathi Bhat and Kumar Bangarappa also raised the issue of shortage of sand during question hour and blamed the apathy of officials. The minister assured that sand would be made available to public to spur construction activities and sand auction would be conducted as per the rules.

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Karnataka wants to vaccinate teachers on priority, writes to PM Modi

COVID-19

Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister Suresh Kumar said that teachers also played an effective role in containing the pandemic.

PTI

Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar on Friday appealed to the Union government to treat teachers as frontline workers and include them in the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive as a priority. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, he said the staff of the education department, especially teachers, played a huge role in containing the pandemic through their on-field work, including maintenance of containment zones. "It would be the best recognition of their services if teachers are declared as frontline workers, in terms of getting a vaccine for COVID-19," the minister said in the letter, enclosing a copy of the state Chief Secretary's proposal in this regard. Suresh Kumar said the government had utilised the services of the teachers for door-to-door collection of data, propagating the importance of physical distancing, assisting health staff like never before and for many other allied activities. "Approving the proposal submitted by the Chief Secretary of Karnataka would go a long way in instilling the much needed faith of this community in our system," he said in the letter, a copy of which was released to the media in Bengaluru. The vaccination drive started in the state on January 16 and at present covers the medical and paramedical staff in the priority sector. As of Thursday, a total of 2.84 lakh people have been vaccinated in the state in the ongoing phase. The government has said after covering the frontline workers, people with co-morbidities and above 50 years would be given the vaccine. The state government's proposal comes at a time when schools and colleges have started functioning, especially for Class 10, PUC (Pre-University Course) students and second year and final year degree students in the state, since early this month.

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Communal violence cases against MLAs and MPs withdrawn in Karnataka, court asks how

COURT

This is in context of an August, 2020 order passed by the BS Yediyurappa-government.

TNM Staff

PTI

In a setback for the BJP in Karnataka, the High Court on Friday reiterated that certain cases of communal violence and cow vigilantism against elected leaders and others cannot be dropped mechanically. This is in context of an order passed by the BS Yediyurappa-government in August 2020 through which 61 cases were set to be dropped. The state government had wanted to withdraw the cases applying Section 321 of the CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code) which gives power to the Public Prosecutor or the Assistant Public Prosecutor to drop cases.  Taking cognizance of an Indian Express report, the Karnataka HC said the earlier stay on the matter issued on December 21, 2020 will continue to be in place as part of the public interest litigation filed by People’s Union for Civil Liberties. In that order, the state government was prohibited from taking any further action in accordance with the August, 2020 order. The HC on Friday also asked the state government to produce all material on record of every action taken with respect to the August, 2020 state government order.   Indian Express on Friday had reported that one of these cases involved Pratap Simha who was booked by the police officers in 2017. Simha, the Lok Sabha MP from Mysore-Kodagu constituency had allegedly driven his car into the police barricade in Hunsur. Mysuru. He was booked for disobeying a public order, rash driving, preventing a public servant from doing his duty, and voluntarily hurting a public servant among other charges. The IE report said that the case was withdrawn by the trial court in Hunsur on October 10.

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Bengaluru Metro wants to resume full seating: What commuters have to say

Transport

BMRCL officials said that the move comes in light of easing restrictions on bus travel, as well as schools and colleges.

Sanjana Deshpande

IMAGE FOR REPRESENTATION: PTI

The officials of the Bangalore Metro Rail Metro Corporation Limited (BMRCL) have approached the Union government with a proposal seeking permission to remove seating limits on the metro rail, which they say will be beneficial in freeing space for the commuters. Meanwhile, the alternate seating rule or one-meter seating distance is being followed, as per the COVID-19 guidelines, to minimize the risk of coronavirus infection. According to officials, the proposal was sent to the Union government on January 28. Yeshwanth Chavan, chief PRO of BMRCL, told TNM, “We have approached the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs because we are thinking of the commuters’ convenience. With the gradually increasing ridership, we want to be able to provide them with the safest and most comfortable commute.”  He added that many have to stand during their commute, which has been contributing to an increase in crowding. Chavan further reasoned that their move came in light of easing restrictions on other modes of transport like BMTC buses, and also limitations being eased in institutions like schools and colleges. “The metro is recording daily ridership of 1.4 lakh on weekdays,” Ajay Seth, Managing Director of BMRCL, told TOI. “We also want to slowly open up like others are. The proposal has just been sent to the ministry and we have not received any confirmation from them yet. Once we do get a confirmation, we will also work on setting the standard operating protocols (SOPs). The ministry will also be recommending changes in SOPs if they approve the proposal. In spite of that, thermal checks and wearing a mask will be mandatory,” added Chavan. He also mentioned that the reducing number of COVID-19 cases has also prompted them to make the decision to remove the seating limit. “We will hold meetings and briefly discuss how we can minimize the risk of getting infected and tackle the fear of asymptomatic carriers. Most importantly, we will need public support. If the public in a disciplined fashion maintains hygiene, uses sanitiser and wears their masks, we will be able to run Namma Metro with full capacity,” he said. Some commuters have expressed their concerns over the removal of the seating limit. A graphic designer by profession, Shyam travels regularly by metro. When questioned if he will still travel without seating limits, he said, “I wouldn’t consider travelling in the metro if the seating limit is not there. But many in the city who find travelling by metro convenient still would consider travelling. It also depends on the frequency of the trains. If they increase the frequency with existing SOPs, the issue of crowding can be solved to an extent, but [removing the seating limit] is inevitable.” He further added that the timings also matter and that as a commuter, one would avoid entering already crowded trains, over the fear of infection. Another commuter Anoop, however, feels differently. "It is a welcome move given the increase in people, and if someone is not comfortable with sitting in close proximity then they can choose to stand. The [train] frequency should ideally increase now that extension lines are also in operation. But the bigger issue is people not following the SOPs and wearing masks incorrectly during the travel. When the train comes to the station, the guards used to shout from outside but no security staff travels inside. They should get some regular travellers to volunteer," he said.

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Darshan's 'Roberrt' faces release issues in Andhra, pro-Kannada activists protest

Controversey

The President of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, however, told TNM that the activists were not connected to the KFCC.

TNM Staff

On Friday, pro-Kannada activists gathered outside the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) in Bengaluru, protesting over reports that Sandalwood actor Darshan's Roberrt was facing obstacles for release in Telugu in Andhra Pradesh. They asked the Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce (APFCC) not to indulge in linguistic politics, and added that they would not allow Telugu films to release in Karnataka if their demand was not met. Darshan's Roberrt is scheduled to be released in theatres on March 11 and the star wanted the Telugu dubbed version to release on the same date. However, the AFPCC reportedly said that the film cannot be released on the said date. Following this, Darshan, director Tharun Sudhir and producer Umapathy Srinivasa Gowda approached the KFCC to file a complaint. Speaking to TV9 Kannada, Avinash, an activist who was leading the protest, said, “If Darshan’s film Roberrt is not allowed to release in Andhra Pradesh, we will not allow any Telugu films to release here [Karnataka]. That is why we have gathered here to protest. The Film Chamber should prove that they are proud of being Kannadigas and work for the betterment of actors from Karnataka. Those opposing the films of our actors in different states should not have stooped so low." When TNM reached out to Jairaj, President of KFCC, he said, “Some people were protesting and creating a ruckus. But in no way are we [KFCC] or the APFCC connected to it. Actor Darshan and the makers of Roberrt have submitted a written complaint regarding the issue to us, and the President of the APFCC has assured us that he will look into the matter and resolve it quickly.” He further added that the two film chambers are amicable with each other and that this is just a passing cloud. The protesters sat outside the KFCC for a couple of hours and left, he said. Meanwhile, actor Darshan in a media interaction said, “The KFCC has agreed to our requests. It has said that it will solve the problem. Producers trust us to make money; it is our obligation to fight for the same. That does not mean that we will stall the release of Telugu cinema in our state. We do not involve linguistic politics in our cinema."

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Karnataka second year pre-university exam dates announced

Education

A day ago, the Karnataka Education Minister had announced dates for the SSLC examinations.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

The second-year pre-university examinations in Karnataka will be held between May 24 and June 10, the state’s Education Minister Suresh Kumar announced on Friday. This announcement comes a day after the tentative dates for the state’s Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) Board (Class 10) examinations for the academic year 2020-21 were announced. According to the dates announced by the Education Ministry, the exams for SSLC students this year will begin on June 14 and will end on June 25. Education Minister S Suresh Kumar asked the students to submit their objections to the tentative time table, if any. Read: Karnataka govt orders schools to slash fees for academic year 2019-20 Minister Suresh told reporters that the students who wish to submit objections to the tentative timetable can send them to the Director of Examinations of the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board till February 26. He added that the classes for students of Class VI to first Pre-University Course (PUC) or Class 11 will commence from February 1. Read: Karnataka schools for classes 9 and 11 to resume from Feb 1 The classes for students of Class 10 to PUC II (Class 12) will begin on full day basis from February 1. And the classes for students of Classes 6 to 8 under the Vidyagama programme will continue as before, the minister said. "Vidyagama classes for sixth to eighth standards on alternative days will be continued as it is. A decision regarding opening other classes will be taken after reviewing the situation during the second week of February and holding discussions with experts," he explained. Earlier in the day, he held a meeting with Health Minister K Sudhakar and technical committee experts. A total of 75% students of PUC and 70% students of SSLC are attending classes. Around 45% of the students from Classes 6 to 9 are attending the Vidyahama classes. The minister maintained that there was no major outbreak of the pandemic after classes commenced for PUC and SSLC students, so one need not worry. A detailed Standard Operating Procedure will be published on conducting classes from February 1 considering the interest of students. (With IANS input) Read: KPSC exam paper leak: Karnataka police make two more arrests

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Karnataka govt orders schools to slash fees for academic year 2019-20

Education

If parents have already paid the full fees, school managements have been ordered to adjust the amount in the fee paid for the next year.

TNM Staff

Representational image

The Karnataka government on Friday ordered all schools - following either central or state syllabi - to reduce tuition fees for the current academic year by 30% due to COVID-19. The government has also said that no development fees or other fees apart from tuition fee can be charged. The state government has also said that if parents have already paid the full fees, school managements will have to adjust the amount in the fee paid for the next year. This decision by Karnataka’s Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar comes two weeks after a section of parents had held a protest in front of his residence over the issue. Karnataka Private School Parent Organisation Coordinating Committee took to sweeping the street in front of the minister's residence in Bengaluru’s Basaveshwarnagar demanding that schools reduce the fees in the backdrop of the pandemic. On January 5, Associated Management of Primary and Secondary School (KAMS) had passed an advisory calling for reduction in school fees by its member schools in light of the COVID-19-induced economic slowdown.  The advisory issued by KAMS suggested that schools whose fee structure is more than Rs 25,000 per annum can reduce 20% to 25%.  For schools which have fees less than Rs 25,000 but more than Rs 15,000 a year, KAMS suggested that special development fees be relaxed for the current school year. Further, for schools whose annual fee is less than Rs 15,000, they can reduce their term fee to a maximum of 10% of their whole tuition fee. Shashi Kumar, General Secretary of KAMS, said, “The 30% of the tuition fee reduction that has been ordered, in reality will be in tune of 40-50%.The government has asked not only to reduce tuition fee but also directed us not to collect any fess for laboratory, sports and computer education. ”  “There are parents who have not paid the fees for the past two years and the government had asked the schools to not take fees for the current academic year. The government should have issued guidelines for the parents as well instead of only regulating the schools. Or the government could have helped the schools who have already reduced their fees by 20-25 percent by directing the parents towards those schools,” he added. 

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Karnataka signs MoU with Amazon India to help MSMEs export goods

Commerce

Amazon will conduct training, webinars and onboarding workshops for exporters from key MSME clusters like Ballari, Mysuru, Channapatna and others.

TNM Staff

The Government of Karnataka on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global e-commerce giant Amazon India to help drive e-commerce exports from the state. As part of the MoU, Amazon will train and onboard MSMEs from the state on Amazon Global Selling, its Exports Program, enabling them to sell their unique Made in India products globally to millions of Amazon customers across 200+ countries and territories.  “Karnataka has a vibrant agro, textile and garment, biotech, and toys/handicraft sectors which are held together by lakhs of MSMEs. Our partnership with Amazon India will encourage our MSMEs to leverage Amazon's global presence and showcase their products to customers across the world,” Jagadish Shettar, Large and Medium Industries Minister said during the signing of the MoU.  “This is also an effort to display the strength of the state's manufacturing and innovation prowess. Our government remains committed to making Karnataka an attractive business and investment destination,” Shettar added.  Under the newly signed MoU, Amazon will conduct training, webinars and onboarding workshops for exporters from key MSME clusters like Ballari, Mysuru, Channapatna and others. The workshops will focus on sharing knowledge and imparting training to MSMEs about B2C e-commerce exports and selling worldwide through Amazon's 17 international marketplaces to over 300 million customers worldwide.  These workshops aim to enable MSMEs with the knowledge and tools to launch their brands and grow their business in international markets through Amazon Global Selling.  “E-commerce companies like Amazon have complemented government’s efforts in not only meeting the needs of customers by safely delivering essentials but also MSMEs which moved online to grow and expand their business during the Covid pandemic,” Gaurav Gupta, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Commerce & Industries Department, Government of Karnataka said.   Karnataka has a rich cultural and traditional heritage. Karnataka has multiple Geographical Indications products like Bidriware, Channapatna toys and Kinnhal craft. Mysore Silk, Udupi cotton and Ilkal sarees are world-famous. This will go a long way in helping the livelihoods of artisans, weavers and craftsmen from the state, Gupta added. The event was attended by Gaurav Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary - Commerce and Industries, Commissioner for Industrial Development, Gunjan Krishna Commissioner for Industrial Development and Director of Industries and Commerce, Abhijit Kamra, Director – Global Trade, Amazon India, Manish Tiwari, Vice President, Amazon Consumer Business, Chetan Krishnaswamy, Vice President Public Policy,  Satish Managing Director, Visvesvaraya Trade Promotion Centre, Revanna Gowda Managing Director, Karnataka Udyog Mitra.

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Bengaluru CA student arrested with Rs 35 lakh worth hashish oil, marijuana

Arrest

The Bengaluru police seized 1.2 kg of hashish oil and 3 kg of marijuana was seized from the student.

TNM Staff

Image for Representation

Continuing the crackdown on drug peddling in the city, the Bengaluru police on Thursday arrested a person and seized hashish oil and marijuana, valued around Rs 35 lakh from him. According to the city police's southeast subdivision, 1.2 kg of hashish oil and 3 kg of marijuana were seized from Vishrut. Deputy Commissioner of Police Srinath M Joshi told reporters that the accused is a commerce graduate but he is presently pursuing a Chartered Accountant's course. "During his study, he developed a very vast network of professional course students such as engineers, medical and other professionals as well. His area of operation included posh areas like Jayanagar, JP Nagar, Koramangala, BTM. Layout and other adjoining areas," he said. The DCP said that preliminary investigations suggest that Raj used to procure these banned substances from the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mico Layout division, Sudheer M Hegde said that the accused was in touch with Guntur-based peddler Praveen aka Mummy and procured banned drugs from him. "He purchased these drugs at Rs 5 or Rs 6 lakh and the same used to be sold at a premium rate. He used to sell it for at least the double the amount," he said. The ACP added that Raj used to work in a Chartered Accountant firm, which was also used to increase his customer base in a clandestine manner. This is not the first time that students and aspiring professionals have been arrested by the police for dealing with banned drugs. In November 2020, a 25-year-old computer programmer based in Bengaluru was arrested by the Central Crime Branch (CCB). He was buying drugs on the darknet from foreign dealers. After the Narcotics Control Bureau began a crackdown on major celebrities of Bollywood, a similar raid was conducted in Bengaluru. Actors Ragini Dwivedi and Sanjjana Galrani were arrested for alleged procuring and consuming drugs. They were in judicial custody and were recently released on bail.

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RSS’ Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat compares Mangaluru’s Ullal to Pakistan

Controversey

Veteran RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat’s statement comes just six months after he made a similar statement.

IANS

Veteran RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat has once again compared Ullal in Mangaluru to Pakistan, in less than six months after he made a similar comparison. "The Ullal Assembly constituency has become a mini-Pakistan in Mangaluru. Unless Hindus in the region don't rise above the Muslims, they will continue to dominate a majority of the Hindus," he said, without ant context, as he exited an event. The RSS leader also urged the voters of the Ullal Assembly constituency to elect a Hindu legislator instead of always electing a Muslim legislator. Post the delimitation exercise, the Ullal Assembly constituency was renamed as the Mangalore constituency, which is represented by former Karnataka Minister UT Khader. He has won on a Congress ticket four times in a row. The constituency was represented by his late father UT Farid, who won the seat for Congress four times since 1972. Of the 20 seats in Mangaluru and Udupi districts, Mangaluru (Ullal) is the only seat where the Congress has succeeded in retaining it. Speaking to the media, Bhat said that only in Pakistan such a thing happens where Muslims elect people of their community and even win in Hindu-dominated seats. "Unfortunately, in India, this does not happen. Even where Hindus are dominant, leaders of other communities sweep to victory," he said. In November last year, Bhat had stoked a controversy by comparing Ullal to Pakistan. He had then urged the Hindus in the state to "produce more children in order to protect the Hindu culture." At the time, he had said, “Who will protect our temples and who will protect our traditions? Our numbers reduced and their numbers increased and that is why we got Pakistan and Bangladesh. If you go to Ullal pete (town), isn't it Pakistan?" The RSS leader is no stranger to controversy. In December 2019, students at a school managed by him enacted the demolition of the Babri Masjid. The video of the enactment was shared on social media following which Dakshina Kannada police booked Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat.

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Novavax says its Covid-19 vaccine is 89 percent effective, but less so against South African variant

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New York undercounted nursing home deaths by as much 50 percent, report finds

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First known cases of Covid variant from South Africa identified in the U.S.

Public health officials in South Carolina said they identified two cases on Thursday.

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JD(S) to back anti-cow slaughter Bill in Karnataka Council, claims MLC

Politics

This is contrary to the regional party's earlier stand to oppose the Bill.

TNM Staff

Senior JD(S) Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Basavaraj Horatti on Thursday said his party will support the contentious anti-cow slaughter Bill in the Karnataka Legislative Council, where it is yet to be tabled. This is contrary to the regional party's earlier stand, to oppose the Bill. Both JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda and his son HD Kumaraswamy, who is the legislature party chief, had repeatedly said that they were opposed to the anti-cow slaughter Bill. "Now, there's no question of defeating the Bill," Horatti told reporters in response to a question about JD(S) supporting it. "Naturally, in the Council, whenever the government changes, it's a question of the majority. If important Bills are there, they'll be passed...JD(S) and the BJP have a total of 43 members (in the 75-member Council), so no question of defeating the Bill. We will support the Bill 100%," he said. This statement by Horatti about supporting the Bill comes a day after JD(S) came to an understanding with the ruling BJP for the Legislative Council Chairman and Deputy Chairman post. As per the arrangement, the BJP will support the JD(S) for the Chairman post, while the regional party will return the favour by ceding the Deputy Chairman post. While Horatti will most likely be the JD(S) candidate for the Chairman post, BJP's nominee MK Pranesh on Thursday filed his nomination for the Deputy Chairman post. According to sources, the ruling BJP agreed to support JD(S)' Horatti for Chairman post, in return for the regional party's support to its no-confidence motion to oust incumbent Chairman K Pratapachandra Shetty of the Congress and passage of certain key Bills, including the land reforms Bill. The government last month promulgated the anti-cow slaughter ordinance that provides for punishment for killing of cattle and offers protection to those "acting in good faith" to save them, as the Bill to this effect is yet to be cleared by the Legislative Council. Under the ordinance, slaughter of cattle will lead to imprisonment of up to three to seven years and a fine ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh, and subsequent offences will attract imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. According to it, cattle is defined as a cow, calf of a cow, bull and bullock of all ages and 'he or she buffalo below the age of 13 years', while beef has been defined as the flesh of the cattle in any form. The government had to opt for the ordinance route, as the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill that was passed by the Assembly last month amid a din with stiff opposition from the Congress, has not yet been approved by the Legislative Council. The Council was adjourned sine die even before the Bill was tabled. For a Bill to become law, its passage in the Council, followed by assent by the Governor is necessary. According to sources, BJP, which had hurriedly tabled the Bill and ensured its passage in the Assembly during the winter session, did not table it in the Council sensing that the numbers were not in its favour with combined opposition Congress and JD(S) against it at the time.

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Karnataka schools for classes 9 and 11 to resume from Feb 1

Education

The education department has also suggested that Class 10 board exams should be held between June 14-25.

TNM Staff

PTI : Image for representation

The Karnataka government has decided that schooling for students of classes 9 and 11 will resume starting from February 1 for the first time since they were shut due to the pandemic in 2020. This decision was announced by Education Minister S Suresh Kumar after Health Minister Dr Sudhakar held a meeting with the Technical Advisory Committee on Thursday appointed by the state government. The Primary and Secondary Education Department has also suggested that Class 10 board exams or SSLC exams should be held between June 14-25. A decision was also made to continue the Vidyagama scheme to continue for Classes 6-8. The committee will again meet in the coming week to decide if normal classes should resume for junior classes. TNM had earlier reported how many academics and civil society groups were urging the state government to reopen schools citing multiple reasons. This included the risks of children taking up work, turning to marriage and discontinuing their education.  Academics argued that students from classes 5 and above need to be in the school environment learning from their peers and from teachers. Unlike their private school counterparts, Karnataka government school students have not had regular online classes in this academic year. The state government started the Vidyagama scheme or the community learning scheme in July before shutting it down in October. The state government's decision came amid reports of COVID-19 cases among teachers and students.  Regular classes for 10 and 12 had already begun starting from January 1. The attendance on day 1 was reported to be 41% across the state. Teachers were made to take a COVID-19 test before reporting to take classes in Karnataka. The state government held meetings with the health department about reopening schools for students of lower classes. "The Technical Advisory Committee will meet again in the second week of February 2021 to take due decision on the opening of the remaining classes," a release shared by the state government said.  

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Biden starts rolling back Trump anti-abortion rules

Executive orders aim to put new administration's reproductive rights stamp on the global stage.

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Biden taking first step toward bolstering Obamacare

The new administration will reopen enrollment and begin reversing Trump changes to the law that Democrats derided as sabotage.

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Student faints in shock after seeing tiger on way to college in Kodagu

Wildlife

The girl was given first aid at the Srimangala Primary Health Centre and doctors reported that she was recovering from the shock of seeing the tiger.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

A pre-university student in Karnataka's Kodagu district fainted when she spotted a tiger strolling out of a coffee estate towards her on Wednesday morning. Around 8 am in T Shettigeri village of the district, Tasma Dechamma was walking to her usual bus stop when she saw the big cat. She fainted at the sight of the tiger and suffered an injury on her head. The tiger walked away from the spot. Tasma was given first aid at the Srimangala Primary Health Centre and doctors reported that she was recovering from the shock of seeing the tiger. She is a student at Ponnampet Government College in Kodagu district. Local residents asked the Srimangala RFO Veerendra Kumar to drive the tiger from the coffee estate to the forest nearby. But even though Nagarhole Tiger Reserve officials conducted a search for the tiger, it was not found on Wednesday. Speaking to TNM, Srimangala RFO Veerendra Mari Basavannanavar told TNM that the search was on for the tiger. "The tiger is currently near the coffee estate and has evaded our search team so far. The girl is recovering and is stable in the hospital. We (forest department) will be covering her medical expenses," Veerendra said. He requested local residents to cooperate and said that a cage will be placed to capture the animal and release it in the forest. T Shettigeri is located 35 km from Virajpet in southern Kodagu. It is surrounded by thick forest areas. The incident comes in a week when a leopard caused a scare in a residential society in Bengaluru's Bannerghatta. It was spotted in Prestige Song apartment building close to the Bannerghatta National Park area. 

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