Rave party in Karnataka district raided by cops, 17 people arrested

Arrest

The organisers of the party allegedly distributed invites on Instagram in a private conversation and police believe that there may have been a supply of narcotics at the party.

TNM Staff

Image for representation/Pixabay

In the early hours of Sunday, police officials from Ramanagara station in Karnataka received a call from concerned villagers in Ramanagara stating that over 500 people had gathered at a mango grove on the outskirts of town. After receiving the call, the police officers from the station conducted a raid on the party at around 2.30 am. Individuals at the party attempted to run and escape upon seeing the police enter the premises, however, the police have managed to apprehend and arrest 17 of the organisers. According to reports, the police also seized liquor bottles, cameras and even a DJ music system from the party and are currently investigating to see if there had been any sale and/or use of drugs at the party. The organisers of the party were reportedly working as managers and HR professionals in Bengaluru companies and did not have the appropriate permission necessary to hold the party. They have been identified as Madhumitha, Puranik and Purohit. During the investigation of the culprits, police were able to ascertain that an entry fee ranging anywhere from Rs 3000 up to Rs 5000 was charged. The organisers had sent invites to the party via Instagram. The organisers had utilised the social media app to send invites to a private group. Police officials believe that there may have been a supply of narcotics at the rave party, the drug tests which have been administered so have returned negative and further investigations are underway. “Some of the people were from Tamil Nadu and Kerala while a majority of them are from the IT sector in Bengaluru. There were men and women at the party, the consumption of alcohol was high and the music was at a high volume,” the police reportedly stated.

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Karnataka bye-elections: Counting of votes for 15 Assembly seats begins

Politics

Around 67.9 per cent (26 lakh) of the 38 lakh voters cast their ballots in the 15 constituencies to fill the vacancies caused by the resignation of 17 coalition government members.

IANS

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Votes polled in Karnataka's by-elections on December 5 in 15 Assembly constituencies will be counted on Monday and results would be declared by evening, an EC official said on Sunday. "Arrangements have been made for counting of votes in the 15 Assembly segments on Monday from 8:00 a.m. at 11 centres, including three in Bengaluru for four urban seats. Postal ballots will be counted first, followed by counting of votes in EVMs," Election Commission official G. Jadiyappa told IANS here. The results of the by-elections are crucial for the four-month-old BJP government in the southern state, as the ruling party requires at least seven seats in the 223-member Assembly for a simple majority, with 112 as the halfway mark. "Though trends will be available from 9-10 a.m., a clear picture of the votes polled will emerge post-noon and results will be declared after completing 20 rounds of vote count in each constituency," said Jadiyappa. Around 67.9 per cent (26 lakh) of the 38 lakh voters cast their ballots in the 15 constituencies to fill the vacancies caused by the resignation of 14 Congress and three Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and their subsequent disqualification by former Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar for defying their party whip. Of the nearly 38 lakh voters in all the constituencies, around 26 lakh voted, with 8 of them in semi-urban and rural areas recording above 75 per cent and 4 seats in Bengaluru registering below 60 per cent. Hosakote in Bengaluru Rural district recorded the highest voting percentage of 90.90, followed by Chikkaballapur 86.84, Hunsur 80.59, K.R. Pete 80.52, Hirekerur 79.03, Yellapur 77.53, Kagwad 76.24 and Athani 75.37. Bypolls in two seats - Muski in Raichur district and R.R. Nagar in Bengaluru southwest were not held due to a litigation in the Karnataka High Court on their results in the May 2018 Assembly elections. The BJP and the opposition Congress contested in all the 15 Assembly seats, while the JD-S in 12 seats. BJP Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and opposition Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Sunday claimed they would win the majority of seats.

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Priority for Kannadigas in blue collar jobs in private companies, says Karnataka govt

Jobs

The government is likely to come up with a legislation detailing on the percentage of reservation and detailed clauses soon.

Soumya Chatterjee

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In a move that’s a step closer to reservation, the BS Yediyurappa-led Karnataka government on Saturday passed a notification giving priority to Kannadigas for clerical and factory jobs in private companies. The state government is likely to come up with legislation detailing the percentage of reservation and detailed clauses. It had in November amended the Karnataka Industrial (Standing Orders) Rules, 1961 to make provisions for such reservation possible. In his Independence Day speech, Chief Minister Yediyurappa addressed the growing demands for reservation for locals in jobs, and assured a lion’s share of jobs for Kannadigas in Karnataka. However, the move has been mooted by past governments as well. In February, the then HD Kumaraswamy-led government had introduced recommendations made in the Sarojini Mahishi Committee report of 1986, to give 100% reservation for Kannadigas in Group C and D jobs in private establishments. The same proposal was also there in the 2017-18 state budget. However, after questions were raised by the Advocate General of the Karnataka High Court about whether the rule violates Article 19 of the Constitution, the recommendations were not enforced and jobs for Kannadigas were only made a priority. Applicants who believe that they have been wrongfully denied a job can now write to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the district complaining about the company. If the charges are proved, the DC can issue a notice to the company and the government can revoke incentives or facilities given to the company. Information Technology/Biotechnology sector and other sectors that demand technical knowledge will be exempted from this change. The Sarojini Mahishi report prepared in 1986 recommended job reservations for Kannadigas in government jobs, public sector units and even in the private sector. Several of the 58 recommendations made in the report were implemented by the then state government and over the years, local organisations have demanded greater job opportunities for Kannadigas. Earlier in 2017, then Labour Minister Santosh Lad in the Siddaramaiah-government had said 100% reservations for Kannadigas in private companies could not be taken ahead as it violates constitutional provisions for reservations. Recently, the Andhra government became the first state to form such a law in the country wherein 75% jobs are reserved for locals in industrial units as well as factories established under public-private partnership mode. Under this policy, companies are also mandated to train locals with the state government’s support if they are unable to source skilled workers locally.

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Onion prices reach Rs 200 per kg in Bengaluru

Food

While there was a similar crisis in 2017 as well, the situation was contained within a short period of time.

IANS

Price of onion shot up to a whopping Rs 200 per kg in Bengaluru due to severe short supply in the market, an official said here on Saturday. "Onion price touched Rs 200 per kg in some retail shops of Bengaluru, after its wholesale rate ranged between Rs 5,500 and Rs 14,000 per quintal," state agricultural marketing officer Siddagangaiah told IANS. As a result, the most common and staple vegetable was conspicuously missing from the menu in homes and restaurants across this tech hub. According to Siddagangaiah, skyrocketing onion prices and the bulb's shortage is expected to last until mid-January. India has an annual onion requirement of 150 lakh metric tonnes, with Karnataka chipping in with onion production of 20.19 lakh metric tonnes. Almost 50 per cent of the onion production gets lost after factoring in crop loss and post-harvest loss, leaving only the balance to arrive in the market. Heavy rains during the harvest also led to the rotting of a good share of the onion production. In November, Karnataka markets received 60-70 quintals of onion a day, which fell by 50 per cent in December, leading to the crisis. Aiming to increase the availability of onion, the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) has issued a circular that onion trade should happen even on holidays. "There is not much stock left with the wholesalers and retailers. Surprisingly, Karnataka does not have well defined onion storage facilities," Siddagangaiah said. Meanwhile, Karnataka department of food and civil supplies is conducting raids to crack down on hoarders. There have been reports of restaurans removing onion dosas from their menu as well. In some shops have started adding or replacing onions with cabbage in their samosas.”  While there was a similar crisis in 2017 as well, the situation was contained within a short period of time.  

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Fresh protests against proposed metro construction at Bengaluru’s All Saints Church

Environment/Civic

Activists have demanded that the BMRCL stick to its original detailed project report (DPR) and not touch the church land at all.

Soumya Chatterjee

In yet another protest, scores of people gathered on Sunday morning at the All Saints Church in Richmond Town against the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). The church complex is home to more than a 100 trees, with lush green lawns that are dotted with benches, and is reminiscent of what the Garden City used to be.  The BMRCL is planning to carry out temporary construction activity inside the tree-dotted compound of the 150-year-old church at the expense of the old trees, a school for children with learning and cognitive disabilities, and an old age home. This is one of the many protests that have been held regularly since the beginning of the year. Activists have demanded that the BMRCL stick to its original detailed project report (DPR) and build the proposed metro station on the land presently occupied by the petrol station.  Moreover, they fear that if any construction work is allowed in the church compound, then with all the tunnel digging and drilling, the heritage structure of the 150-year-old church itself will crumble. This planned construction is for the metro line from Dairy Circle to Nagawara (part of the Namma Metro Phase II). The commercial property that the church-owned, including Tom’s Hotel, Fatima Bakery and Daniel Garage, has already been handed to BMRCL for the same metro project. Environmental conservationists have said that along with the trees, some of which are over 100 years old, the vicinity will lose the cool atmosphere which it now enjoys due to the current microclimate. Plus, the area acts as a roosting spot many species of birds, including the rare Paradise Flycatcher. Arun Prasad, an activist part of the protest, said, “BMRCL can use the open, barren space at the Central Military Police for its temporary acquisition, which is less than 100m down the road. This would be a win-win situation for all concerned. We don’t want the BMRCL to touch any part of the church compound.”  Currently, the matter is at a stalemate as the Tree Committee, which has the authority to allow the BMRCL to cull this many trees, is yet to meet due to ongoing litigation at the Karnataka High Court. Even the Tree Committee, prior to the litigation, in its correspondence to the BMRCL, has asked the body to use the vacant military land for the purpose. Moreover, the activists say the hardline approach of the BMRCL amounts to contempt of court as the High Court has recently reiterated that all large scale infrastructure projects in the state should follow three rounds of a process of public consultation as per the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961.  The Environment Support Group, an NGO working for environmental and social justice has also written to the Karnataka Chief Secretary and Home Secretary on the issue.   ESG in its letter said, “As per the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, this campus is an appropriate candidate for being declared as a ‘Biodiversity Heritage Site’ and the proposed (draft) Revised Master Plan – 2031 already lists the church and its campus as a ‘living heritage’.”   The letter highlights the alleged legal loopholes and illegality with which the BMRCL is pursuing the church land.   The letter also mentioned a move by Ashokenagar Police for issuing a police notice dated December 5 which ESG said it “amounts to issuing a threat to the congregation” for exercising their fundamental right to pray, and to gather peacefully to protect their church and its environs.        

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Bengaluru court accepts closure report in sexual harassment case against bishop Samuel

Crime

A closure report is submitted when there is no evidence, suspicion or reasonable grounds against the person named in the case.

Theja Ram

A Bengaluru Court has accepted a closure report filed by the Halasuru Police in connection with the sexual harassment case filed against the Bishop of Holy Trinity Church, PK Samuel, and a church member, Vinod Dasan. According to section 169 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), a closure report is submitted by the investigating officials when there is no evidence, suspicion or reasonable grounds against the person named in the case, and hence, the person can be released.  On November 30, the First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Bengaluru dismissed the case after accepting the B report or cancellation report (when there is no evidence to file a chargesheet or seek trial).  According to the Central Crime Branch sleuths, the court had accepted the B report as the complainant had not appeared before the magistrate to challenge the report and hence, had accepted it.  The woman had filed a sexual harassment complaint on the night of January 21 this year at Halasuru Police Station,stating that Bishop Samuel touched her inappropriately and also threatened her to withdraw the complaint she had filed against him and Vinod Dasan in Kothanur Police Station in 2013. The CCB officials said that the woman allegedly did not cooperate with the investigation. “The mobile tower location of Vinod’s phone and CCTV footage from his house shows that Vinod did not go to Devanahalli as alleged by the woman and the Bishop was in his house,” a CCB official said.  Back in 2013, the woman had also filed a complaint at the Kothanur Police Station accusing Vinod of sexual harassment. Since there were multiple cases related to the same parties, the CCB had taken up the investigation.  In her complaint, the woman had stated that Vinod visited the woman’s mother in Bengaluru’s Devanahalli and told her to convince the complainant to drop the case. He had also informed the woman’s mother that that Bishop PK Samuel wanted to meet her daughter and counsel her on the case. On January 21, the woman and her husband arrived at Holy Trinity Church near Trinity Circle in Bengaluru, where they met both Samuel and Vinod. After they spoke, Vinod allegedly said that he wanted to speak to her husband, leaving the woman alone with Samuel. Samuel allegedly continued to pressurise her to withdraw the case and allegedly offered to pay her Rs 1 crore as well as employment through the Diocese. However, she refused. At that point, he allegedly put his hand on her shoulder and misbehaved with her.  According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Rahul Kumar, Bishop PK Samuel was booked under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 506 (criminal intimidation), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.  Vinod Dasan has been booked for criminal intimidation after the woman tried to take her own life on January 21. The case was registered in the Shivajinagar Police Station. It was later transferred to the Halasuru Police as she had already filed a complaint there.            

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Bus and metro stations in Bengaluru to deploy security guards for women's safety

Security

This comes following the massive outrage over the lack of women’s safety after the brutal rape and murder of a veterinarian in Hyderabad.

TNM Staff

Sunnya343 Wikimedia Commons

In the wake of massive outrage following the brutal rape and murder of a veterinarian in Hyderabad, various agencies in Bengaluru are stepping up security measures to ensure women’s safety.  The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) have now installed measures to ensure the safety of female passengers. According to TOI, BMTC on Saturday said that women security guards would be deployed at waiting lounges in 12 major bus stations in the city, who will survey the premises. The waiting lounges will be open from 6 am till the last bus leaves the station.  “BMTC has constructed lounges for the safety and convenience of women passengers at the stations/traffic and transit management centres under the Nirbhaya Scheme,” a BMTC press release said. “Apart from seating arrangements, the lounges provide facilities like infant feeding rooms, washrooms and glass partitions, which will help track bus movement,” the release said. In March this year, BMTC inaugurated the waiting lounges after a long wait. The BMTC had proposed the idea in 2017, however, the agency had complained of delay in the central government allotting Nirbhaya Funds, leading to the delay in constructing these lounges.  The BMTC stated that these waiting lounges too would be under surveillance of women security guards.  Since December 3, the BMRCL has been providing a woman guard on every train that runs beyond 10 pm. According to The New Indian Express, nearly 31% of BMRCL’s daily ridership of 4 lakh commuters are women. However, the ridership of women passengers is low after 9.30 pm, the report stated.  BMRCL introduced this in the wake of reports of crimes against women and also after several women passengers had complained of men entering the coaches meant for women only. There were also complaints of men misbehaving with women travelling late at night.  BMRCL, on December 4, issued a notification that allowed women to carry pepper spray for self defence. Earlier, the BMRCL had banned pepper spray as it is flammable.  

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