Security guard at IISc in Bengaluru killed after sliding gate crashes on him

Gowtham Biswal, who started his shift at 6 am on Sunday, died on the spot, while two others were injured in the incident.

TNM Staff

A security guard at the Indian Institution of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, was killed after a newly installed iron gate at the entrance of the premises of the institution collapsed on him on Sunday afternoon. Gowtham Biswal, who hails from Odisha, died on the spot while two others - Anil Kumar (37) from Bihar and Vinayak (40) from Odisha - were injured in the incident.  According to the police, 26-year-old Gowtham began working as a security guard at the IISc three years ago. He started his shift at 6 am on Sunday, but around 1 pm, when Gowtham opened the gate to the main entrance of the IISc building for a car to enter, the sliding gate derailed and crashed on him. Two other guards, who rushed to help Gowtham, were also injured after they failed to lift and hold the gate, reported Deccan Chronicle.  Gowtham sustained severe injuries on his forehead and died on the spot while the others were rushed to a nearby hospital. The sliding gate weighed around 500 kg and was 6 feet high and 14 feet long. It was installed recently at the entrance of the IISc premises.  Another guard, an eyewitness to the tragedy, told the New Indian Express, on condition of anonymity: “This gate operates on a bearing to gather support. There are two gates that should not be opened completely, as they fall due to lack of support. These were in the process of being replaced when someone slid them beyond the safe point. Since it was a Sunday, there were only security guards, else the number of casualties could have been higher, with students or faculty members getting injured or killed.” The police officials at Sadashivanagar police station are investigating the incident and have taken up a case of causing death due to negligence against the engineer who made the gate. “The matter is under investigation. We are ascertaining what led to the tragedy and who was at fault for it," a police official told the Times of India.  The Indian Institute of Science is located on CV Raman Road in Bengaluru and was established as a public institute for research and higher education science, engineering and design. 

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Air India Express plane with 183 passengers veers off runway at Mangaluru, all safe

Accident

The IX384 Air India Express aircraft coming from Dubai to Mangaluru ended up on the grass after overshooting the runway by some distance.

TNM Staff

It was a close shave for passengers travelling in an Air India Express flight arriving in Mangaluru, as the aircraft veered off the main taxiway while landing at the Mangalore International Airport around 6 pm on Sunday. All 183 passengers are safe and deboarded the plane after it came to a halt on a grassy area in the airport. All operations at the airport were suspended after the incident occurred. The IX384 Air India Express aircraft coming from Dubai to Mangaluru ended up on the grass after overshooting the runway by some distance, as per airport authorities. In the Mangalore International Airport, the table top runway is on top of a hill. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been informed about the incident and an internal investigation will be conducted to ascertain why the aircraft overshot the runway. The incident evoked memories of the horrific 2010 plane crash at the same airport which killed 158 people. On May 22, 2010, a Boeing 737-800 overshot the runway and plunged down a gorge at the end of the runway. Investigations revealed that the pilot was asleep when the crash occured. The cockpit voice recorder picked up the sound of the pilot snoring before the crash. In India, apart from Mangaluru, airports at Kozhikode in Kerala and Lengpui in Mizoram have table top runways

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Bengaluru's JP Nagar residents hold 'peace walk' over encroachments

Civic Issues

The group of residents had earlier submitted a petition demanding a revamp in the infrastructure on 24th main road that connects Jayanagar and JP Nagar.

TNM Staff

Residents of JP Nagar in Bengaluru held a peaceful march on Saturday in a bid to raise issues regarding the infrastructure on 24th main road in the area. The group had earlier submitted a petition signed by 2,000 residents of the area demanding a revamp in the infrastructure on the 1.8 km stretch on 24th main road that connects Jayanagar and JP Nagar.  "If you walk on this stretch as opposed to driving a vehicle, you will realise the encroachment that has taken place here. There are micro breweries, hookah bars, large convention centres, all built without adequate parking facilities, which have clogged up the road," says Rajesh Soundarajan, a resident.  According to the residents highlighting the civic apathy in the area, convention centres with a capacity of over 1,000 people, have parking available for just 50-100 vehicles.   "When you drive a vehicle on the road, it takes 30 minutes to cross this small stretch. Sometimes, it takes longer," adds Rajesh.  Another resident, Rupa Srihari, points out that there are no road signs or no-parking boards present on the road. "This entire road is riddled with bad traffic management with zero traffic planning and enforcement. Even the road signs and no-parking boards are absent, let alone management of traffic. The sheer negligence is seen in the way there is no proper footpath for even children and old people," she says.  Several apartments are located in this area including Brigade Millennium, Brigade Palmsprings, Sobha Tulip, L&T South City, and Elita Promenade. Residents from these apartments and those residing in individual houses in the area took part in the march, which was done without disrupting traffic. 

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Mock drills, unmanned boats, 24x7 helplines: Kodagu officials prepare for monsoon

Monsoon Preparedness

In addition to the toll-free rescue and relief helpline number 1077, Kodagu residents can contact the district administration on 8550001077 via WhatsApp for assistance.

Prajwal Bhat

Civil defense personnel in Kodagu, August 2018

A year after floods and landslides claimed the lives of 21 people in Karnataka's Kodagu district, authorities in the hilly region have taken extra precautions ahead of this year's monsoon season. From buying machinery to training officials and setting up helplines, the district administration is making sure they are well-resourced and equipped to tackle a flood-like situation.  The district officials admitted that they were caught unprepared during the floods and landslides that struck the region in August 2018, prompting multi-agency rescue operations. "We struggled last year, particularly in rescuing people in Somwarpet taluk, where the force of the river was strong and we could not transport personnel or materials across the river," says PRS Chetan, Officer Commanding, Civil Defence Quick Response Team (QRT).  This year, the rescue teams have surveyed the vulnerable areas of the district and have also conducted mock drills simulating disaster scenarios.  "A 30-member team conducted a mock drill in Hattihole region. We are on standby whenever the district administration wants us on the ground. We have bought new equipment, such as unmanned boats, inflatable floating bridges and dewatering pumps to attend to any flood-like emergency situation. Woodcutting machines and life jackets, too have been stocked. The unmanned boats will help us transport ropes and life jackets across flooded areas," explains Chetan. The district administration has identified the vulnerable areas in the district where landslides could strike again. Places, where relief camps will be set up, have also been identified. Training programmes for all officials, volunteers, media personnel and elected representatives are also being conducted.  Read: With rains predicted, residents in Kodagu villages asked to vacate in 2-3 days "We are also trying to integrate the public in rescue efforts since the first response will be from the public on-ground. Lack of coordination between officials and residents caused some confusion last year," says Annies Joy Kanmani, Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu.  The move to integrate local residents in rescue efforts was welcomed by residents who were involved in volunteer-driven rescue efforts last year. "We know the forests here like the back of our hands and will only contribute towards the rescue efforts of the teams from outside Kodagu. Last year, we coordinated the rescue efforts by pooling resources and people together, but it would be better if there is integration with officials," Deepak Muthanna, a volunteer and resident of Madapura in Kodagu, told TNM. He was involved in the rescue efforts in Madapura and its surrounding areas during the landslides and floods last year.      NDRF personnel in Kodagu, August 2018 However, Deepak warned that fighting a disaster on-ground will be different from conducting mock drills in still water. "Last year, one of the main issues was that the water mixed with mud was flowing with a dangerous force. Some of the items procured for this year's floods may not be effective when there is such a gush of water flowing," he added.  Residents in the district can now contact the administration via WhatsApp or call the helpline number.  The toll-free rescue and relief helpline number is 1077. A separate 24x7 Helpline Centre is currently active in the Deputy Commissioner's office. Residents in the district can contact the district administration on the number - 8550001077 - via WhatsApp. A May 2019 report by the Geological Survey of India had identified 35 'vulnerable' areas in the district, including 13 that are highly 'vulnerable'. While district officials plan to visit all 35 locations, excavators have also been deployed in areas susceptible to landslides to make it easier to clear tracts of mud that tend to pile up on roads.   On June 20, residents living in vulnerable areas were asked to shift to rented accommodations or relief centres as a precautionary measure. The district administration will pay rent for up to three months for those displaced by the floods and landslides.. Read: Ten months after landslides swept away Kodagu villages, survivors still in limbo

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JD(S) to undertake padayatra from August 20 to strengthen base in Karnataka

Politics

JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and other senior party leaders are expected to take part in the statewide padayatra.

TNM Staff

The JD(S) is set to undertake a padayatra in the state of Karnataka in an attempt to revive its connections to southern parts of the state. “We are planning to start the padayatra from August 20 and cover the entire state in six months,” said senior JDS leader YSV Datta, one of the party members who has been planning out the details of the padayatra. The statewide padayatra will reportedly begin on August 20. JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and other senior party leaders are expected to take part in the padayatra. While he emphasised the importance and necessity of the padayatra, senior leader Deve Gowda added that the goal was not to hurt the party’s alliance with the Congress party. “I want to make it clear that our initiative should not hurt the coalition government, which was formed by a national party (Congress) and a regional party (JDS), which came together for a secular ideology," he said. The announcement of the padayatra comes hardly a week after Deve Gowda stated that mid-term polls were imminent, a statement that led to much controversy which left several speculating about the coalition’s future. Following this, the senior party leader clarified that he was speaking only about local body elections. Speculations of immense friction between the governing alliance have been strife since the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections. Both parties managed to secure only one out of 28 seats. Adding fuel to the fire, both Deve Gowda and his grandson Nikhil Kumaraswamy had lost in their respective constituencies. According to reports, the padayatra is set to take place in two phases. The first phase of the padayatra will begin from Nanjangud and then eventually proceed to Davangere and Harihar and will continue or a period of six months. "It will go on for six months continuously,” YSV Datta added.

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Bengaluru bar raided: 74 women rescued and 53 others arrested

Crime

Customers were allegedly allowed to shower the women with money, and even dance with them, if they paid more.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) raided a bar in Bengaluru’s Domlur, and arrested 53 people, including two managers and a cashier. The CCB also rescued 74 women who were allegedly being forced to dance at the bar. On Friday, CCB officials conducted a raid at on Chef Regency Inn located in Domlur. They reportedly recovered Rs 1.04 lakh in cash and rescued 74 women, who were illegally employed by the management. The women were allegedly being used to entertain customers who visited the bar. Customers were allegedly allowed to shower the women with money, and even dance with them if they paid more. “The accused employed the women to entertain clients who visited the bar. Customers were allowed to shower money on them while they danced. Those who paid more were allowed to dance with them,” a senior police officer told The Hindu. The raid was conducted as part of a drive conducted by Police Commissioner Alok Kumar, who has been looking to weed out restaurants and pubs in the city, which are attempting to bypass the law. He had given specific orders that action be taken against illegal activities, including gambling, dance bars and illegal chit funds. According to reports, the women, some of whom were locals while others were from other states, were lured with the promise of good jobs, and that they were being forced to dance in order to attract more customers to the establishment. The main accused have been identified as Dinesh P (42), Dinesh Kumar (41), Riyazuddin (52), Prakash Dutt Joshi (23), and Hegya Raj Joshi (23). The operation had been carried out under the direction of Joint Police Commissioner B Ravikanthe Gowda. Earlier in June, in a similar case, 266 women were rescued from a dance bar, which had been running in the city illegally. In connection with this, 237 people, including almost 200 customers and 44 workers of the dance bar, had been arrested at the time.   

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With IMA under scanner, victims of Bengaluru’s many halal ponzi schemes seek justice

Ponzi scheme

These schemes primarily targeted Muslims and the victims in the cases are now demanding prompt action from the authorities to recover their money, which goes into crores.

Soumya Chatterjee

While there is overwhelming media attention on the high profile IMA ponzi scheme in Bengaluru, with a central agency probing the multi-crore scam, the victims of lesser-known yet similar “halal” design schemes have been awaiting justice for the past six months. These schemes primarily targeted Muslims and the victims in the cases are now demanding prompt action from the authorities to recover their money, an amount to the tune of crores.  Unlike fixed bank interest rates which a section of Muslims consider to be anti-Islam, these companies sold their plans as a form of partnerships with the promise of high returns of 10-12% within a month. The plan was to lure customers to invest their life savings by staying true to the offer for the first few instalments. On Friday, more than 300 victims of the Injaz scheme attended the court hearing in the case, which is being probed by the Central Crime Branch of Bengaluru police. The Injaz scandal was revealed during an ED investigation in 2017. The main accused was arrested earlier this month and has been accused of swindling investors of money worth Rs 90 crore.  During the hearing on Friday, the victims urged the court not to allow the accused Misbah to be released on bail and also sought that the passports of the accused be seized so that they cannot flee the country like Mansoor Khan. The other accused in the case, Sohail, is still absconding. “As only Misbah is caught, that too under pressure after the IMA fiasco, we are afraid they (the accused) may disappear again and hence the precaution. We are hoping for a favourable trial,” Narendra Kumar, State Joint-Secretary of Lancha Mukta Karnataka Vedike (bribe-free Karnataka), said. The LMKV has been uniting all the victims to unite as one and approach the authorities. During the proceedings of the case, the government has appointed the Bengaluru North Assistant Commissioner as the special recovery officer to sell the seized assets of the company and distribute among the victims proportionately according to the Karnataka Protection of Interest of Depositors (KPID) Act. Speaking to TNM, Ravi Krishna Reddy, another member of the citizen group raised the common demands of the victims. "We want the numbers of assets that have been seized to be made public, apart from money been traced in India and abroad by the CBI or the ED," he said. He added, "Cases of IMA, Muzaribah, Ajmera, Injaz and Aala should be filed in Special Courts within 30 days as per the KPID Act." These angry victims want action against RO (AC-North) for a delay of 6 months in filing cases against Injaz in the Special Court, which they say flouts norms specified in the KPID Act. They also sought action against RO (AC-South) for delay of 3 months, even after the seizure of properties by CCB, in filing cases against Ajmera and Muzaribah for similarly swindling the money of their investors.

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