Man who went missing from Badami found crushed to death 2 days later in Bengaluru

Accident

Police said that Hanumantha had come to the CCI godown in Bengaluru in the early hours of Sunday.

TNM Staff

Representational image| Official website

Police in Bengaluru on late Tuesday night said that they found the body of a man who had been missing from Bagalkot in Badami since Sunday. Whitefield police said 45-year-old driving assistant T Hanumantha’s body was found crushed under a goods container of Container Corporation of India in their jurisdictional limits. His body was found when the container was being picked up on Tuesday night. According to investigations, he had died instantly when a container was offloaded by a crane. Even his phone was found crushed as a result of the accident. Police said that Hanumantha had come to the CCI godown in the early hours of Sunday along with driver Venkatesh. While Venkatesh had gone to report to the manager, Hanumantha stayed in the vehicle. However, once Venkatesh returned, he could not spot his colleague. Venkatesh did not worry much thinking that Hanumantha must have gone out to drink. But he was alarmed when Hanumantha did not return on Monday morning too and even his family called to inform that he has not returned home. When he tried to reach him on his phone, he found that it was switched off. Police are now looking out for a man who was on duty for operating the crane on the night of the accident. A case of death due to negligence has been registered. This incident comes close to a year after three workers— all of them in their 20s, were crushed to death in a freak accident that took place inside a warehouse located in nearby Seegehalli area. All the three died after heavy racks filled with crates full of goods, fell on them like dominoes after one of the racks was apparently overloaded. The warehouse was operated by a Delhi-based supply chain management startup Holisol Logistics since June 2017.

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Three men in Karnataka booked for tying firecrackers to stray dog’s tail on Deepavali

Crime

In a disturbing video, three men are seen tying firecrackers to the tail of a stray dog, lighting it on fire and then laughing as the scared dog tries to run away.

Soumya Chatterjee

Days after a video of an incident of cruelty against a street dog went viral on social media, the police in Karnataka has identified the three accused. In the disturbing video, three men are seen patting a street dog as they tie a string of crackers to its tail. The three men are seeing laughing as the crackers start lighting up the dog is seen helplessly trying to run away from it. While many posts on social media were shared stating the incident had taken place in BTM Layout in Bengaluru, police said the incident actually took place in Shivamogga district. Speaking to TNM, Mico Layout police confirmed that the incident did not take place in their jurisdictional limits and said the bike was traced to Bhadravathi. The accused have been identified as Bharath, Mithun and Nithin, all of whom are between 19-21 years of age. Officials at the Bhadravathi Rural Police Station said the accused have been booked under sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and have been questioned. A police official said, “The incident occurred on October 26 in Singamane village, Bhadravathi. It is a non-cognisable offence and we will file a charge sheet after the investigations are over.” The incident has also brought the issue of the archaic British era law which does not give police nor the courts any teeth to punish offenders who are cruel to animals. As per the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 the punishment for animal cruelty is not severe. In most cases, the accused are imposed upon a fine of an amount between Rs 50 and Rs 100 and are let go without any actual punishments.  Animal rights activists have time and again fought for stringent punishment against animal cruelty and attributed the cause of growing apathy towards stray animals to the lax punishments as the accused are not scared about the consequences of causing physical harm to animals. Activists in Bengaluru said that they will meet the state police chief on the issue.      

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UK journo files equal pay case against BBC, but Indian media have long way to go

Media

While Samira Ahmed reportedly receives 440 British pounds per episode, a male BBC host Jeremy Vine, receives 3,000 pounds an episode.

Nikhita Venugopal

In a case that could set a historic precedent towards narrowing the gender pay gap in journalism, BBC presenter Samira Ahmed has launched a landmark equal pay case against the British public service broadcaster. According to The Guardian, Samira says she was paid 85% less than a male presenter at an equivalent level. Her case is being supported by the National Union of Journalists.  Samira is reportedly demanding back-pay worth hundreds of thousands of pounds for her work on Newswatch, a programme presented by Samira since 2012 that allows viewers to air their comments and concerns on the BBC's coverage. While she reportedly receives 440 British pounds per episode, a male BBC host Jeremy Vine, who presents the programme Points of View, receives 3,000 pounds an episode.  In the case, Samira’s side will argue that both Newswatch and Points of View are similarly-presented programmes that last about 15 minutes. Both programmes allow viewers to voice their opinions, and Samira is arguing that she deserves equal pay. However, the opposition is expected to argue that the programmes are not similar and are different formats for different audiences, reports say.  Samira arrived at the central London employment tribunal on Monday morning. The case will be heard over the next seven days.  In a statement, Samira said, “I love my job on Newswatch, despite it being difficult and challenging.” She continued, “I know that it is an important part of demonstrating the BBC service to all its audiences and the licence-fee payers. I have a sense of pride working for a public service broadcaster which seeks to represent the diversity of Britain and its licence-fee payers.” “On the back of my BBC ID card are written the BBC values, which include ‘we respect each other and celebrate our diversity’ and ‘we take pride in delivering quality and value for money’. I just ask why the BBC thinks I am worth only a sixth of the value of the work of a man for doing a very similar job,” she said.  In India, a long road remains towards gender parity in media houses. Independent journalist Geeta Seshu noted that while journalists in the UK fight for equal pay for equal work, societal pressures against women only add more obstacles in that path in India. She described a situation in which two women TV journalists complained of discrimination basis of dark and fair complexion. “On top of discrimination in the wages, there are other forms of discrimination. Even amongst women, there is basis on the discrimination of skin colour.”  “That is the extent of discrimination. We are talking about a completely different situation in India,” she continued. “The BBC has been fighting and working on parity at a very different level. We are still at the bottom. We are struggling to even put our foot on that first rung.” The International Women’s Media Foundation’s 2011 Global Report on the Status of Women in the News Media found that women in Indian media companies are paid less on average in both higher and lower pay ranges. That includes senior and top management in various roles. In middle management, junior level and technical professional levels, the salaries between men and women were found to be more similar, though women were found to have little involvement in both creative and technical areas of news production, the report said.  Additionally, a survey conducted earlier this year found that women in India earn 19 percent less than men across industries. Samira’s and Carrie’s fight for equal pay in the media industry is now part of a decades-long battle in multiple countries. In 1970, sixty women employees of Newsweek in the United States filed a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in regards to the magazine’s sexist policy that favoured men in staff writing roles. Women occupied jobs like researcher, mail girl and low-level reporters. That dispute — chronicled in the 2012 book The Good Girls Revolt and later turned into an Amazon Prime series — ended in historic victory for the women. Newsweek agreed to take steps towards creating equal employment opportunities for women in writing, reporting and news coverage roles.  For the BBC, this is the second high-profile case it has faced in recent years. Last year, the BBC admitted that its former China editor Carrie Grace had been paid significantly less than her male colleagues. It had reportedly told Carrie that she would be paid in line with North America editor, Jon Sopel, at an annual salary of around 200,000 to 250,000 British pounds, but her salary was actually 135,000 British pounds. She resigned from the post after accusing the BBC of creating a “ secretive and illegal” pay culture. The BBC apologised to Carrie and offered her a payout, which she donated to charity. 

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Senate Democrats fail in bid to block Trump’s Obamacare opt-out

Several Democratic senators were absent for the vote, contributing to its wide margin of defeat.

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Bengaluru residents blame metro authority for damaging roads in Jayanagar

Civic Issues

Responding to the protests, the BMRCL said they will fix the issue within two weeks once the rain stops.

Soumya Chatterjee

An angry group of residents in Bengaluru’s Jayanagar on Wednesday gathered in protest against the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) at the Bannerghatta Raod-Swagath Road junction near Sagar Hospital. The protest was on the issue of the poor condition of the 1 km-long stretch of road from Dairy Circle Junction to the Sagar Hospital Junction for over a year. BMRCL is building the Dairy Circle Metro Station in the vicinity and has turned the 3+3 lane road to a 2+2 pothole-filled road. In addition to the bad roads, there is no safe space for pedestrians as well.  Protestors said the BMRCL had taken over a major part of Bannerghatta Road for the construction of the Metro Phase-II (Reach 6), leaving the reduced road space in a very bad condition. Wednesday’s demonstrations come two weeks after Mayor Gowtham Kumar inspected the stretch and asked the BBMP officials to repair the roads following complaints. But he was told it was the BMRCL’s responsibility as it has started the metro expansion work.  Even BTM Layout MLA and former minister Ramalinga Reddy  (formerrly MLA of Jayahanagar) had written to the BBMP and BMRCL to repair the roads. With rain, the situation has become worse as the dusty roads have turned to a patch of untarred mud road and another part full of potholes. This naturally has resulted in slowing down of traffic movement in the already clogged roads for more than a year now. Girish Smith, a regular commuter of the stretch says due to the present condition of the road, travelling between Dairy Circle and Jayadeva junction (2.5 km) via this stretch sometimes takes an hour. The BMRCL has taken over the Tilak Nagar side of the road for the station and had made a temporary road but did not make any amenities for walkers. Arun Prasad, one of the organisers of the protests by Bahujan Samaj, said, “We have been demanding that the BMRCL repair the roads and make minimum facilities. The condition of the road is leading to two-wheeler riders falling down and slowing down of ambulances. The road leads to Jayadeva and many other hospitals. We know how crucial the ‘golden hour’ is for heart patients. But they (BMRCL) are saying now that they are not being able to lay roads as it is raining. But where were they when it was not raining?” Ramaiah, Security Officer of a car showroom on the road echoed Arun’s views. “We are daily suffering because of this. There is so much road dust and once it rains, there is slush which slows down traffic even further. This is continuing for more than a year now and people are suffering.” BMRCL promises remedy The protests on Wednesday however, prompted the BMRCL to respond swiftly. M Ramesh, Deputy Chief Engineer of the BMRCL (Reach 6), said, “Our MD (Ajay Seth) has already surveyed this stretch and instructed for road restoration. But now due to rains, we cannot start the work. As soon as the rain stops, then within two weeks’ time, we will make the road motorable and fix the footpaths.”  He added, “You can see, we have already finished some of the other stretches. In addition in the entire stretch we are carrying out patchwork but the rain has been relentless.”

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Forced to stay onshore due to Cyclone Kyarr, Udupi fishermen face huge losses

Cyclone Kyarr

The impact of the cyclonic storm meant that fishermen in Karnataka's coast had to return to the nearest harbour at a time that is considered peak fishing season.

Prajwal Bhat

Malpe Fishing Harbour/ Photograph by Akshay Pai

The end of the monsoon season usually brings cheer for Shankar and his family, residents of Bengre, a coastal village in Karnataka's Udupi district. But this year, the onset of Cyclone Kyarr meant that fishermen like Shankar, 60, had to refrain from entering the sea in the past week. "The sea is too rough and we are unable to send boats for deep-sea fishing," says Shankar, pointing to a colorful line of boats jostling for limited space at the fishing harbour in Malpe. "These are boats which would naturally be in the sea at this time for 5-7 days but instead, we either have to go fishing in the river where the catch is not very high or find other jobs." The cyclonic storm Kyarr was centered in the Arabian Sea for much of last week but its impact in Karnataka was highest in the state's three coastal districts - Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada. The rains began as early as October 18 and continued till October 27 forcing fishermen to abandon fishing and return to the nearest harbour. Most of the boats which returned are still docked at the harbour as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) continued to advise fishermen against venturing into the sea. The IMD forecasted fresh rains in Udupi from October 31 . "This (break in deep-sea fishing) represents a loss of anywhere between Rs 8 to Rs 15 lakh per boat because the fishermen have missed at least one fish landing," explains Yathish Baikampady, a former President of the Moguveera Vyavastapaka Mandali, an organisation working for the welfare of fishermen in the coastal districts. Fish landings are catches of marine fish landed in a domestic port. According to Yathish, almost all fishing boats in the three major ports - Mangaluru, Malpe and Karwar - in the three coastal districts have returned to the nearest fishing harbour. In Udupi district alone, around 2,000 boats are registered as deep-sea fishing boats in the Arabian Sea. All of them returned to the harbour after the IMD initially warned fishing boats against venturing into the sea on October 20. Some fishermen registered in Udupi were fishing off the coast of Karwar and Goa when they were forced to return to the harbour nearest to them.  Fishing harbour in Malpe The rains reduced in Udupi on Monday and clear, sunny skies were reported across the district. Fishermen were keen to take advantage of sunny conditions and set out for deep-sea fishing. "These are forces beyond our control but if the boats are not at sea, then the earnings are reduced. This will be a burden on everyone connected to the fishing industry including the boatowners, crew workers and their families," adds Yathish. However, officials in the district issued fresh advisories to fishermen against venturing out into the sea. "We are urging fishermen not to venture out into the sea until the weather is clear for a few days since there is forecast of fresh rains on October 31," says Ganesh K, Deputy Director, Udupi Fisheries Department. Fishermen lamented the timing of the cyclone's impact in Karnataka. It comes just two months after heavy rains delayed the traditional resumption of deep-sea fishing activities in the coastal parts of the state. Fishermen in Karnataka's coastal districts are barred from venturing into the sea for two months of the year in June and July. The deep-sea fishing activities resume in earnest from the month of August and reach a peak in September, which is marked by 'Palke Booruni', a day on which the resumption of fishing activities is celebrated by fishermen. However, a spell of heavy rains in Karnataka at the start of August caused floods and landslides in coastal, Malnad and northern parts of the state. The rains meant that the resumption of fishing activities were delayed till September. "Fishermen usually have multiple jobs since the fishing season does not go on for the whole year. So many fishermen are either doing agriculture, coolie work or business to bide their time while waiting for the weather to improve," Shankar adds.   

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11 Bengaluru youth performing ‘wheelies’ on airport road detained by cops

Law and order

The police officials in plainclothes filmed the youth performing stunt before detaining them.

TNM Staff

Eleven men who were caught performing wheelies and other bike stunts were detained on Monday by Bengaluru rural police officials who posed as unsuspecting motorists. The police officials filmed the youth performing stunts between Doddaballapura and Devanahalli before detaining them.  Police officials at Doddaballapura Town police station received information about a group of men speeding towards Devanahalli in bikes. A team of 10 police officers in plainclothes led by inspector S Raghavendra and sub-inspector Venkatesh reached the spot on two-wheelers and waited for the bikers. Raghavendra explained that in a short while, a gang of bikers arrived and began performing stunts like wheelies and riding without holding the handle. Police officials followed them posing as interested motorists and filmed their act. On reaching Doddaballapura town, police officials blocked them and revealed their identities before detaining them and seizing their vehicles, reported Times of India. Police said that there was a total of 17 bikers and six of them are still absconding although their bikes were seized. All arrested men were between the ages of 18 and 23 and residents of RT Nagar, Hebbal and Nagawara, reported Deccan Herald. It included eight bikers who were students while the rest were recent graduates seeking jobs. The men were arrested but later on Tuesday, they were let off with a stern warning and told to return to the police station with their parents. The operation by Bengaluru police comes amid a crackdown on men performing dangerous wheelies on the road to the Bengaluru International Airport leading out of the city. Bengaluru Rural Superintendent of Police Ravi D Channananavar said that the police will continue the operation and keep a vigil on the roads on the city's outskirts.

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