Bengaluru moviegoers bullied for sitting during national anthem, booked by police

Controversy

On October 23, a group of four people — two men and two women — were bullied on camera at PVR Orion Mall in Bengaluru during an interval for the Tamil movie Asuran.

TNM Staff

After a group of people were hounded and heckled for allegedly sitting down during the national anthem at a movie theatre in Bengaluru, the police have now registered an FIR against the moviegoers.  The group of unknown persons were charged under Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. "We don't know who they are but we have registered an FIR and we are asking PVR to hand over CCTV footage to identify these people. We have also asked for contact numbers of the accused persons," Sadananda M, police inspector at Subramanyanagar police station told TNM. A suo motu case was registered against a group of unknown persons in connection with the incident.  On October 23, a group of four people — two men and two women — were bullied on camera at PVR Orion Mall in Bengaluru during an interval for the Tamil movie Asuran. Sandalwood actor Arun Gowda and a few others shouted at the four people and called them "Pakistani terrorists" as they allegedly did not stand when the national anthem was played. “Not able to spare 52 seconds for the country, but you have the audacity to sit here and watch a three-hour movie? Are you Pakistani terrorists?”, a man is heard saying in a video of the incident, which was shared widely. However, the video of the argument was shot during the interval and not when the national anthem was being played. Police officials said that they are trying to examine if the national anthem was dishonoured in any way. Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, states that those who “intentionally prevent the singing of Jana Gana Mana or cause disturbances to any assembly engaged in such singing” shall be punished with jail term extended upto three years.   In November 2016, the Supreme Court had made it mandatory for all cinema halls to play the national anthem before the screening. In January 2018, the apex court modified the order and made it optional for cinema halls to play the national anthem before every show. However, if a cinema hall chooses to play the national anthem, people could stand up to show respect.  “Why should you presume that not singing the national anthem in a theatre makes a person anti-national?” Justice Chandrachud, who was a part of the two-judge bench, had asked while overturning the earlier order.     

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Delivery agent, cancer survivor among the 49% women candidates in M'luru civic polls

Politics

In August 2018, the Karnataka Government hade issued a notification, allocating 50% of ward seats for women in Urban Local Body (ULB) elections.

Harsha Raj Gatty

The Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) polls this year, scheduled to be be held on November 12, will see a new trend and some new faces. Of the 180 candidates confirmed by the Karnataka State Election Commission, 88 are women candidates, each from all walks of life — a driver working with a food delivery app, a cancer survivor and insurance agent, among others.  This comes after the Karnataka Government in August 2018 issued a notification, allocating 50% of ward seats for women in Urban Local Body (ULB) elections. While 18 wards have been reserved for General Category (Women), eight have been reserved for Backward Class A (Women), two for Backward Class B (Women), and one seat for Scheduled Caste.  This is reportedly the first time in Mangaluru political history that close to 50% of the candidates contesting a local body election are women.  Out of the 88 women candidates, 31 (including one Scheduled Caste reservation ward) will contest on BJP tickets, while 30 will contest for Congress. Janata Dal (Secular) has fielded three women candidates. While three women will represent the Communist Party of India (Marxist), one will be a Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate. About 18 women candidates will contest as independent candidates.   26-year old Jessel D’Souza, a young political novice, said that she was elated to be the BJP candidate in the Catholic-dominated Bendur (General Ward Number 38). Jessel is a cancer survivor and will be up against three-time corporator Naveen D'Souza.  “Election or life, I am not fighting against any other candidate. I am assuring victory for myself and my party,” says Jessel, the BJP candidate.  The MBA graduate has an agenda for her ward, if she is elected: Tackling the irregularity of water supply in some areas, the underground drainage and sewage connectivity, and the inconvenience caused both to motorists and pedestrians due to bad condition of the roads and footpaths. “I want to expedite such rectification to provide a good living standard for the ward members,” she said.  Meghana Das, on the other hand, became a popular figure in the city as one of the few woman delivery agents working with a popular food app. For her, social service is an attitude that was embedded in her at a young age.  She will be contesting the polls on the Indian National Congress party’s ticket. Meghana will contest against BJP candidate Sandhya Mohan Acharya in Mannagudde (General Woman Ward 28).  Former Congress councillor Asha D’Silva will contest on behalf of BJP from the Falnir ward, instead of the Valencia ward (where she had contested and won in the 2013 polls) for the Congress. “I have made my contribution to the people in my former stint, but Congress did not give me another chance. Nevertheless, I am sure people have seen the merit and elect me as their representative,” she said Meanwhile, the newly formed party called Karnataka Rashtra Samiti (KRS) said that out of its 10 candidates who filed their nomination, two were women. However, one of the women’s application was rejected due to certain technicalities, said the party’s office-bearer, Deviprasad.  The party’s lone woman contestant, Mavis Rodrigues, an insurance agent, will be contesting as an independent candidate from Ward 33 (Kadri). In the 2013 civic body election, 243 of the candidates were women. The Congress had bagged about 35 seats at the ULB polls, while BJP had to settle with only 19 seats. JD(S) won two seats, and one seat each was won by the CPI, Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and an independent candidate. However, with the political scenario in favour of BJP — both at the Centre and the state, and due to the Reservation policy, 2019 MCC polls may spell out a different outcome. Story by Story Infinity (Subs and Scribes Media Ventures LLP.)

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‘Don’t need another flyover, give us metro’: Residents of Koramangala-Ejipura

Transport

Activists have stated not just the delay, the construction of the Ejipura flyover itself is a terrible idea.

Alithea Stephanie Mounika

BBMP Commissioner tweeted pictures of work resuming on Koramangala-Ejipura flyover

For years now, the Ejipura flyover — which is supposed to connect Ejipura to Adugodi — has been famously delayed, tied up in bureaucracy and a lack of funds. The idea of the flyover was to provide relief to commuters who routinely get stuck in the 500-metre stretch that forms a single-file bottleneck at the Ejipura signal and the traffic jams last for 20 minutes to 45 minutes. Two years after it was first cleared for construction, the work on Ejipura flyover finally commenced last month. BBMP Commissioner Anil Kumar put out a tweet that the work on the flyover, which was supposed to have been completed in January 2019, has resumed.  “The construction is on-going and we cannot do much about the traffic. However, we are trying to speed up the construction as far as possible,” says Anil Kumar, Commissioner of BBMP. However, activists have stated not just the delays, the construction of the flyover itself is a terrible idea.  “The flyover is a complete waste of money. First of all, flyovers are a bad idea because they are built to prioritise and move private vehicles. This is inadequate to move public between these areas,” says Sandeep Anirudhan, part of the Citizens’ Agenda for Bengaluru. He goes on to say that there are buses that ply on this route, but they are just not enough.  “The Bengaluru local buses are the most expensive in the country. The bus routes have also been designed unscientifically and there is no proper connectivity between places that people want to go to. Instead, people are forced to plan their trips based on the arbitrary bus route. Instead, people prefer to take their private vehicles. In any case, it costs less,” he adds. Read: Bengaluru has the most expensive public transport in India, and people aren’t happy The Citizen’s Agenda for Bangalore has put out a petition for people to stand up against another elevated corridor that is unnecessary, and he says will just add to the congestion in the city, like it takes place in Electronic City. The petition seeks to replace the flyover concept with a metro connection instead. Experts have supported this idea. Ashish Verma, a professor of sustainable transportation at IISc, says that flyovers are a short-lived solution. “When there is a flyover to decongest a junction, there will always be people who will change their routes to use this flyover. This is known as ‘induced demand’ when people who aren’t using something, begin using it due to the availability. So people adopt cars and bikes to use this system, and the problem doesn’t get solved. Private transportation also exacerbates the effect on climate as there is increased emissions and fuel consumption,” Verma adds. With the vehicle population that keeps increasing year on year in cities, and people opting to buy cars as their incomes go up, the traffic congestion problem doesn’t get resolved one way or the other. The only solution is to have high-density transportation solutions: public transportation like buses, metro, and local trains. Read: Railway Board clears long-awaited Bengaluru suburban rail project Which is where activists’ demand for the metro connectivity comes in. People who work in the IT sector and travel to work need better options than just taking their cars to work and getting stuck in commutes that last hours. There is currently no proposed metro connectivity between Koramangala to KR Puram, or even to important IT hubs Electronic City and Whitefield. “It’s a hassle for me to get out of Koramangala every day through Indiranagar-Ejipura,” says Kevin Mathews, a commuter who works in Frazer Town. “The route I used previously was through Hosur road, but the white topping there has been held up for months and it's impossible to use that route. Even alternate routes through local areas are packed with vehicles, and now the traffic police have blocked the inside routes. I can’t rely on buses to get me to work on time and so I’m forced to commute in this manner. A metro connection for even half the journey would be an extremely welcome change," he added.

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Former K'taka cricketers CM Gautam, Abrar Kazi arrested on charges of spot-fixing in KPL

Sport

A total of seven people, including four players, have been arrested till now in the Karnataka Premier League spot-fixing case.

TNM Staff

Former Karnataka cricketers CM Gautam and Abrar Kazi have been arrested by the state police's Central Crime Branch (CCB) on charges of spot-fixing during the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) final earlier this year. According to an ESPNcricinfo report, Gautam, captain of Bellary Tuskers, and Kazi who plays for the same team, allegedly accepted Rs 20 lakh for "slow batting" in the final against Hubli Tigers, which the Tuskers lost by eight runs. Chasing 153 runs, Tuskers ended up with 144, with opener Gautam scoring a 37-ball 29 while Kazi struck 13 off six deliveries. The two are also believed to have been involved in fixing another match against the Bengaluru Blasters. CCB officials stated that the duo was paid Rs 20 lakh for "slow batting" during the final of the tournament.  The arrest of the two comes a day another player Nishant Shekhawat was arrested for allegedly acting as an intermediary between bookies and players in the KPL. A total of seven people, including four players, have been arrested till now in the KPL spot-fixing case. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) runs the KPL T20 tournament every year on the lines of the popular Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament by the cash-rich Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Gautam is a popular name in Karnataka cricket circles and was instrumental in helping the Karnataka Ranji cricket team win back-to-back domestic trebles in 2013-14 and 2014-15. After nine years with his home state, he moved to Goa this season and was named their captain for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy which begins on Friday. He is a wicket-keeper and a right-handed batsman.  Gautam also played for the India-A team and has represented Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians, and Delhi Daredevils in the IPL. Kazi, meanwhile, also played under Gautam at different stages of his career. He represented Karnataka before moving to Nagaland last year. He transferred to Mizoram at the start of this season. He represented Royal Challengers Bangalore in one game. The scandal came to light in September this year with the arrest of Belagavi Panthers owner Ali Asfak. With inputs from IANS

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Bengaluru set to add 6,000 buses in phased manner, will double fleet

The move will lead to the number of buses in the city almost doubling in the city.

TNM Staff

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa announced that the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation’s (BMTC)'s fleet of buses will be increased with the addition of 6,000 buses in a phased manner.  The move will lead to the number of buses in the city almost doubling. BMTC currently operates around 6,500 buses in the city and is in the process of phasing out 1,000 old buses.  Speaking to reporters, Yediyurappa said that the state government is planning to lease buses as it would reduce the financial impact on BMTC. He added that the corporation was unable to invest thousands of crores for procuring buses and will instead operate them after leasing, reported The Hindu Activists in the city who have been demanding that the state government should revive the bus network in Bengaluru raised concerns about the decision to lease buses from private companies.  "We are concerned that we are leasing the buses and not purchase. We ask that there is a long term plan to purchase buses and strengthen BMTC else this will not work. What we need is for BMTC to be given more funds. We will then be sure to celebrate", Bus Prayanikara Vedike said in a social media post.  We are concerned that we are leasing the buses and not purchase. We ask that there is a long term plan to purchase buses abd strengthen BMTC else this will not work. What we need is for @BMTC_BENGALURU to be given more funds. We will then be sure to celebrate. @WeAreBangalore — BusPrayanikaraVedike (@BBPVedike) November 7, 2019 Yediyurappa also announced that 50% of the new buses to be added will be electric and they will operate on priority lanes. The state government has decided to start priority bus lanes in 12 areas of the city with high traffic.   

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FIFA-standard football complex opens in Bengaluru

Sport

The football complex, located within the HAL Sports Club, also has a full size natural grass grounds and artificial turf.

Prajwal Bhat

A football complex with artificial turf and flood lighting as per standards set by FIFA was inaugurated at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Sports Club, off Old Airport Road, on Wednesday evening.  The facility was developed by HAL to promote grassroots football in Bengaluru. "The aim is to spot and develop players of exceptional calibre and prepare them to be professional players for the tough domestic and international tournaments and provide the right kind of infrastructure that matches the international standards”, VM Chamola, Director (HR), HAL said.  The facility was inaugurated by former Indian football team captain Baichung Bhutia. Players from the Baichung Bhutia Football School (BBFS) are set to train at the facility. The football complex within the HAL Sports Club also has a full size natural grass ground, which means that players can now train in both artificial turf and natural grass.  On Sunday, a youth football league kicked off in the newly-built sports complex. The league, organised by Belgian football consultancy company Double Pass, aims to develop football talent development systems and improve grassroots football in the city. It invited football academies based in the city to face each other in the under-14 and under-16 age categories. HAL says that the new stadium is aimed at promoting grassroots football in the city. The facility will be used by the HAL Football Academy, which selects players from across the country for professional coaching with lodging and boarding facilities. The players have access to a gymnasium and a swimming pool inside the complex.  Before the emergence of Bengaluru FC in the last six years, HAL SC, a football club based in Bengaluru took part in the I-League, the then top-tier of Indian football in 2010. The club shared a decades-old rivalry with ITI, with matches between the two teams attended by thousands of fans.  

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9 yrs after murder of Dell techie Payal Surekha, gym trainer gets life term

Crime

The horrific murder of 29-year-old Payal had shocked the city back in 2010.

TNM Staff

Nine years after Payal Surekha, a software professional in Bengaluru was found murdered in her flat in a case that had shocked the city, a special CBI court sentenced James Ray, a gym trainer, to life imprisonment for the murder on Wednesday.  In the horrific murder, 29-year-old Payal was bound and stabbed 23 times by the accused James Ray, who worked at a fitness centre run by Payal's husband Ananth Narayana Mishra. Ray was sacked due to misbehaviour and alleged financial irregularities. James blamed Payal, a senior technical assistant at Dell in the city, for his dismissal and plotted for weeks to kill her at her apartment in JP Nagar in the city, the Times of India reported. James was also fined Rs 1 lakh.  SK Umesh, who was then the inspector of JP Nagar Police Station, arrested James and recovered a blood stained knife and a pair of goggles from him. James had reportedly used the goggles before hiding it in an isolated place in Puttenahalli. The police said that James committed the murder to take revenge on Payal, The Hindu reported. The murder had shaken the city back in 2010 and the case made headlines for weeks. Her family had even accused the husband Ananth of committing the murder. Payal's parents later approached the Supreme Court seeking a CBI enquiry into the role of their son-in-law Anantha Narayan Mishra in the murder. Supreme Court directed CBI to investigate the case in August 2013.The CBI re-examined the evidence and concluded that James killed Payal and tried to implicate her husband, who was in Cuttack at the time, in the murder. 

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