Bengaluru-bound GoAir flight misses runway, lands on grass

Accident

Severe fog conditions reportedly led to poor visibility at Kempegowda International Airport on Monday.

TNM Staff

Representational Image

In a near mishap, a GoAir flight arriving in Bengaluru from Nagpur landed just off the runway at the Kempegowda International Airport on Monday. The flight immediately took off again and landed on the runway in its second attempt. Flight G811 flight departed early Monday morning from Nagpur, and was set to reach Bengaluru at 7.15 am. Preliminary reports suggest that severe fog conditions in Bengaluru resulted in poor visibility, which led to the incident.  Passengers and crew on board did not report any serious injuries, sources said. Officials at the Kempegowda International Airport declined to comment on the incident, stating that only the airline and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have the authority to speak on the issue. DGCA has launched an inquiry into the matter. GoAir has not responded to request for comment. According to reports, the entire crew has been grounded. Fog conditions often affect flights scheduled at Bengaluru airport between November and February. In July, an Air India Express flight travelling from Delhi to Mangaluru veered off the taxiway and skid onto a patch of grass and mud at Mangalore International Airport. All 183 passengers and six crew members aboard the plane were safe. At the time, the Mangalore International Airport Director VV Rao told TNM, "The pilot, while attempting to land, could not establish a stable approach so the aircraft circled the runway and landed in the second attempt. He added, “The aircraft skid after the pilot was unable to control the speed while turning from the runway to the taxiway. The pilot has to slow down and turn into the taxiway. If the aircraft is fast, a 90-degree turn is not possible so it is because of speed this has happened."

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With influx of 16 Cong-JD(S) rebels, dissent brews within Karnataka BJP

Crime

The BJP leaders, who were hoping to get tickets to contest elections, are now unhappy about the rebel leaders joining the party, say sources.

Theja Ram

A day after the Supreme Court allowed Karnataka rebel leaders to contest the bye-polls slated to be held on December 5, the BJP inducted 16 of the 17 rebel leaders into the party. This move has given rise to rebellion within the party as BJP leaders, who were hoping to get tickets to contest elections, are now unhappy about the rebel leaders joining the party. BJP insiders say that former JD(S) President Adagooru H Vishwanath, former Athani MLA Mahesh Kumatahalli, and former Ranebennur MLA R Shankar alias Pendulum Shankar, are unlikely to get tickets to contest the elections. The Hunsur dilemma AH Vishwanath, JD(S) leaders say, had incurred a huge debt close to Rs 90 crore during the Karnataka Assembly elections held in 2018. Vishwanath, who was appointed as the JD(S) state president, had hoped to bag a ministry or the chairmanship of a board or corporation during the coalition’s regime. However, the JD(S) first family had kept him away from power. “Vishwanath had also asked Deve Gowda to help him with the debt but no one came to help him. He decided to help Ramesh Jarkiholi and join the BJP to ensure that his son gets a shot at entering politics,” the JD(S) leader said. BJP insiders say that former Channapattana MLA CP Yogeeshwar has been campaigning in Hunsur, Vishwanath’s stronghold, hoping to bag a ticket to contest elections. However, Vishwanath allegedly struck a deal with the BJP in exchange for tendering his resignation. BJP sources say that Vishwanath wanted his son Amit Devarahatti to get the ticket to contest the bye-elections. “The BJP ideally wants Vishwanath to contest. They don’t want his son. But Yogeeshwar is threatening to work against the party if he is not given the ticket,” the source said. Unhappy rebel leader in Athani Trouble is brewing for the BJP in Belagavi’s Athani as well as former MLA and Congress rebel Mahesh Kumatahalli is hoping to contest bye-polls on a BJP ticket. Party insiders say the high command is adamant that Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, who was caught watching porn in the Assembly in 2012, will be given the ticket. The BJP is currently in talks with Mahesh Kumatahalli, where the party is offering to elect him as a Member of the Legislative Council and give him a ministerial portfolio or the chairmanship of a state-run board or corporation. “BL Santhosh wants Laxman Savadi to get the ticket. He was appointed as the Deputy CM after the high command decided that he would contest from Athani. Mahesh Kumatahalli is not happy about these developments,” the source said. Trouble for Pendulum Shankar Dissent is brewing in the BJP’s Ranebennur unit, where party loyalist Kantaraju, who had contested the Assembly elections on a party ticket in 2018, is unhappy about R Shankar’s entry into the BJP. BJP sources say that several BJP leaders are apprehensive about giving R Shankar a ticket as he has, on multiple occasions, proved to be unreliable, and prone to easily breaking his word. On the afternoon of May 15, 2013, R Shankar, the former KPJP MLA from Ranebennur, had announced that he would offer his support to the coalition. Just a day later, he announced that he would support the BJP and a day later, supported the coalition. Over the course of the 14-month coalition government, R Shankar withdrew his support for the coalition twice. Known as a party hopper, BJP loyalists do not want R Shankar to get the ticket. “BJP leaders, who have been with the party, are not happy about R Shankar being considered as the candidate. Several leaders have also requested the high command that R Shankar be kept away from contesting elections. The party was supposed to decide on the tickets yesterday (Wednesday) but many leaders are adamant that R Shankar be kept away. The leaders in Delhi will have to decide,” the source added.     

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After Bengaluru woman posts video alleging domestic violence, husband detained in UAE

Crime

The Indian Consulate in UAE has assured help to Jasmine Sultana.

TNM Staff

After a Bengaluru woman in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) took to Twitter to reveal the abuse against her at the hands of her husband, the police in Sharjah detained the man on Wednesday.  In the 10-second video on Twitter, 33-year-old Jasmine Sultana can be heard urging her parents to take her back to India, even as she spoke with blood trickling from her swollen eye. In the tweet, she identified her husband as Mohammed Khizar Ulla. “I have (been) assaulted badly by (my) husband. I want help,” she wrote. She has two boys, aged 5 and 17 months.  Required urgent help .....my name Jasmine sultana I live in UAE Sharjah my husband name is Mohammed khizar ulla ....I have assaulted badly by husband I want help ..... pic.twitter.com/ugp2E6tqm3 — Jasmine Sultana (@JasmineSultan18) November 12, 2019 The video till now has got more than 90,000 retweets. Speaking to Khaleej Times (KT), Jasmine said she wanted to thank Twitter and all those who showed support for her on the platform. She also said that she is relieved that her husband is in police custody. She said over the years, she was in an abusive marriage and was subjected to humiliation and violence.  “He assaulted me violently on Sunday night. He punched more on my eyes, twisted my hands, and hit me on my ribs, my neck and my head. I thought I would die," she told the newspaper and said she posted the video as she could not endure the abuse any further. She said she managed to post the video as soon as she could get hold of her phone, as her husband had disconnected the landline as well. He had held her captive so that she could not seek help. He took her to the hospital only when her five-year-old son would not stop crying on seeing his mother getting beaten.  Taking to Twitter, Sharjah police confirmed the arrest by the competent authorities but urged the public not to share the video further as it has negative repercussions among the community. As reported by KT, Jasmeen had married Khizar Ulla in 2013, when she was working as an HR professional in Bengaluru. This was her second marriage. She said that her husband started abusing her from day one but she endured it. She also said that he would call her as a “used woman” and steal all her jewellery, claiming her family did not give him enough dowry.  The Indian Consulate in UAE, which is also apprised of the situation, assured help to her. The woman continues to be in UAE as her husband has kept her passport.  "We et Jasmine and are in regular touch with her. We have called her husband to the consulate tomorrow, and understand that local authorities are already questioning him. We will provide all possible help to Jasmine," the Indian Consulate said on Twitter. We met Ms. Jasmine today and are in regular touch with her. We have called her husband to the Consulate tomorrow and understand that local authorities are already questioning him. We will provide all possible help to Ms. Jasmine. — India in Dubai (@cgidubai) November 13, 2019

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16 of 17 disqualified Karnataka MLAs join BJP, Cong’s Roshan Baig missing

The BJP did not clarify if former Shivajinagar MLA Roshan Baig, had joined the party.

TNM Staff

Courtesy: Prajwal Bhat

Sixteen out of the total 17 disqualified Congress and JD(S) MLAs of the Karnataka Assembly joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday. This comes after the Supreme Court verdict on Wednesday upheld their disqualifications but allowed them to contest in the bye-elections set to be held on December 5. All disqualified MLAs, with the exception of former Shivajinagar MLA Roshan Baig, were inducted into the BJP during a ceremony held at the party's office in Bengaluru. Fifteen constituencies will go to polls next month, with the exception of RR Nagar and Maski constituencies. The politicians were disqualified by the former Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar in July. At the same time, the 17 MLAs with the exception of Shrimant Patil and R Shankar, approached the Speaker with resignation letters. The disqualifications of these MLAs paved the way for BJP to form the government in Karnataka in July. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court upheld the disqualifications of the MLAs but allowed the MLAs to contest in the bye-elections. "The state of affairs in the previous government meant that we had to resign from the Assembly. We wholeheartedly welcome the chance to join the BJP and we will be doing everything to help our candidates in the upcoming elections", former Hunsur MLA AH Vishwanath said. The former MLAs who joined the BJP on Thursday are — Ramesh Jarkiholi, AH Vishwanath, Pratapgouda Patil, Shivaram Hebbar, BC Patil, Mahesh Kumathalli, Anand Singh, Sudhakar, Byrathi Basavaraj, ST Somashekar, Muniratna, Gopalaiah, Narayan Gowda, R Shankar, Shrimant Patil, and MTB Nagaraj. MTB Nagaraj was not present during the induction ceremony, but sources from the BJP confirmed that he had joined the party. Roshan Baig, another disqualified MLA, was conspicuous in his absence. BJP did not clarify if he had joined the party. Roshan is a seven-time legislator and a former minister in the Congress government. He resigned on July 10 from the Shivajinagar assembly segment in the centre of Bengaluru. The Congress had also suspended Baig on June 19 for his alleged anti-party activities, including criticism of the party's state leaders after the recent Lok Sabha elections in which the party was routed in Karnataka. A party communication on Wednesday left out Roshan's name from the list of disqualified MLAs inducted into the BJP. Despite this, Roshan Baig claimed that it was a typing error and that he was joining the BJP. Roshan is accused in the IMA scam which came to light in his constituency earlier this year.

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No entry to scooters and cards on Nandi Hills on weekends?

Civic issues

Officials have come up with an alternative to traffic jams and rush for parking. They propose that vehicles park at the foothills, and then make the rest of the journey by bus.

TNM Staff

Harsha K R on flickr

Nandi hills, a popular weekend destination for Bengalureans, may ban the entry of private vehicles on weekends, taking into account the long traffic jams on slopes and lack of parking space. Nandi hills is one of the few green spaces close to the city. But its popularity with people of all ages, as well its extreme popularity on social media as one of the most 'Instagrammed destinations in India, means that the infrastructure has not been able to withstand the large number of road users. Hence local authorities in Chikkaballapur have met with the horticultural department as well as with the MD of KSRTC to make alternate arrangements to get to the top. The authorities had earlier tried to curb the level of vehicles on the hill by attempting to ban the entry of single persons last year, but the ban didn’t stick. This was allegedly to prevent accidents and the possibility of people going to the hilltop to attempt suicide. The Chikkaballapur district officials have come up with an alternative to traffic jams and rush for parking. They propose that vehicles park at the foothills, and then make the rest of the journey up, by hopping onto one of the KSRTC buses that will be allotted for the purpose. Officials said that they will wait for the Chikkaballapur district administration to allot proper space for parking at the foothills, after which they would commence the scheme. State Tourism Minister CT Ravi also recently announced the intention to make a ropeway to Nandi hills. He tweeted recently and paid tribute the late Kannada actor and director Shankar Nag. He had dreamt of a rope way to Nandi hills, and CT Ravi had tweeted “As Tourism Minister, I am fully committed to fulfill His dream of building a Ropeway to Nandi Hills."   Offer floral tributes to the great Actor & Director Shankar Nag on His Jayanti. Shankar Anna dreamt of Namma Metro and many more projects in 1980s. As Tourism Minister, I am fully committed to fulfill His dream of building a Ropeway to Nandi Hills. pic.twitter.com/Dbi96Igu4V — C T Ravi ಸಿ ಟಿ ರವಿ (@CTRavi_BJP) November 9, 2019   “As soon as the by-elections get over, we will start the planning process for the rope-bridge. We are hoping to have private investment in this initiative. We are yet to get clearances from the forest department," State Tourism Minister CT Ravi told TNM on Thursday.

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No entry to scooters and cards on Nandi Hills on weekends?

Civic issues

Officials have come up with an alternative to traffic jams and rush for parking. They propose that vehicles park at the foothills, and then make the rest of the journey by bus.

TNM Staff

Harsha K R on flickr

Nandi hills, a popular weekend destination for Bengalureans, may ban the entry of private vehicles on weekends, taking into account the long traffic jams on slopes and lack of parking space. Nandi hills is one of the few green spaces close to the city. But its popularity with people of all ages, as well its extreme popularity on social media as one of the most 'Instagrammed destinations in India, means that the infrastructure has not been able to withstand the large number of road users. Hence local authorities in Chikkaballapur have met with the horticultural department as well as with the MD of KSRTC to make alternate arrangements to get to the top. The authorities had earlier tried to curb the level of vehicles on the hill by attempting to ban the entry of single persons last year, but the ban didn’t stick. This was allegedly to prevent accidents and the possibility of people going to the hilltop to attempt suicide. The Chikkaballapur district officials have come up with an alternative to traffic jams and rush for parking. They propose that vehicles park at the foothills, and then make the rest of the journey up, by hopping onto one of the KSRTC buses that will be allotted for the purpose. Officials said that they will wait for the Chikkaballapur district administration to allot proper space for parking at the foothills, after which they would commence the scheme. State Tourism Minister CT Ravi also recently announced the intention to make a ropeway to Nandi hills. He tweeted recently and paid tribute the late Kannada actor and director Shankar Nag. He had dreamt of a rope way to Nandi hills, and CT Ravi had tweeted “As Tourism Minister, I am fully committed to fulfill His dream of building a Ropeway to Nandi Hills." “As soon as the by-elections get over, we will start the planning process for the rope-bridge. We are hoping to have private investment in this initiative. We are yet to get clearances from the forest department," State Tourism Minister CT Ravi told TNM on Thursday.

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Bengaluru man alleges assault after tiff with contract worker of Traffic police

Crime

Joint commissioner of Police (Traffic) BR Ravikante Gowda said a departmental enquiry will be undertaken.

TNM Staff

In a tiff with a worker contracted by the Bangalore Traffic Police for towing vehicles in restricted zones, Kiran Murthy, a city-based professional, was left with injuries on his face. The issue started when one of the contract workers took out a fine collection machine used by the police. He enquired as to how towing boys had the machine when it is supposed to be carried by the traffic police only. According to Deccan Chronicle, Murthy’s bike was towed away from a spot near Baptist Hospital near RT Nagar. When Murthy went to collect his towed bike, he was asked by one of these men to pay a fine of Rs 1,600. It was at this point that he raised objections on how a non-police person was issuing challans. Murthy claimed he was hit in the face and punched in the ear before other workers also started attacking him and tore his shirt.  He also shared a video on social media where he made these allegations and asked senior policemen to take action against his attackers. The video went viral and prompted sharp criticism from the public. Responding to the video, assistant sub-inspector Prakash was slapped a memo for dereliction of duty as he handed the e-challan machine to a private individual, reported The Times of India. While Sanjay Nagar Police had reportedly refused to accept a complaint from Murthy, DCP traffic (north) Sarah Fatima said she will write to the Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) to see that the accused men are not employed in service anymore. Joint commissioner of police (traffic) BR Ravikante Gowda told reporters that he had ordered a departmental enquiry.

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