Bengaluru Metro’s Green Line gets two more six-car trains

Transport

The six-car trains can carry 2,000 passengers and is expected to ease crowding during rush hour.

TNM Staff

Two more six-car trains will be added to the Green Line of Bengaluru Metro starting from Monday. This will bring the total tally of six-car trains in the Green Line to 12. Out of the 18 trains plying the Nagasandra-Yelachenahalli route, six are three-car trains. All 18 trains on the Purple line (Baiyappanahalli to Mysuru Road) are six-car trains.     Until June 2018, all Namma Metro trains plying in the city consisted of three coaches with a total capacity of 975 passengers at a given time. This caused a space crunch during peak hours. The six-car train, in comparison, can accommodate as many as 2,000 passengers. In a press release, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) said, “We have converted two more three-car train sets into six-car train sets on the Green Line and will be inducted into revenue service wef December 23. There will be a total of 12 six-car trains, which will be operating on the Green Line between Nagasandra/Peenya Industry and Yelachenahalli stations. On weekdays, these trains will perform a total of 88 round trips.” “During peak hours, 66% of trains in operations will be six-car train sets and 33% of trains will be three-car trais. Otherwise, all six-car train sets will be operational.” Passengers plying the Green Line route have been complaining of crowding during peak hours as the capacity of the trains have only increased partially since the operations began, while all trains on the Purple Line have been converted to six-car trains. The six-car trains are expected to ease the rush hour journeys.  The first compartment is reserved for women in all six-car trains. This additional capacity is also expected to increase the average daily ridership of the Bengaluru metro, which is now at around 4.54 lakh across the Purple and Green Lines.  While the Green Line between Nagasandra and Yelachenahalli spans 24.22 km, the Purple Line between Baiyyappanahalli and Mysore Road runs for 18.08 km. However, ridership has been consistently higher for the Purple Line than the Green Line. Recently, the metro had reached its highest ridership on the eve of Deepavali when more than 4.83 lakh people used the metro. Out of these, the Purple Line recorded 2.63 lakh passengers, while the Green Line saw 2.19 lakh passengers on a single day.  By March 2020, the metro rail authority is expecting to ready 50 six-car trains for the two lines together. The BMRCL said with the Bharat Earth Movers Limited expected to maintain the schedule of delivery, it is likely that the metro authority will also be able to stick to its deadline.

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21-yr-old man held for allegedly raping, killing 9-yr-old girl in Karnataka

Crime

The victim went missing on December 15 from a temple fair. Her body was found the next day in a pond.

TNM Staff

Police in Hassan in Karnataka said a nine-year-old girl who initially went missing and was found dead in a tank recently was a victim of rape and murder. Addressing reporters on Saturday, Hassan Superintendent of Police Ram Nivas Sepat said one 21-year-old Suresh has been arrested for allegedly raping and killing the girl. The Times of India reported, the accused Suresh who was arrested on Saturday is a daily wage labourer.  Sepat said the post-mortem done by Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences has found that the victim’s death was caused by asphyxia as a result of smothering with indications that she had suffered recent sexual assault. According to the police, the victim who was in Class 4 was visiting Channarayapatna to witness a temple festival on December 14 along with her brother and his friends. While both the siblings left for the temple fair on December 14 afternoon around 2:30pm, the boy returned home on December 15 morning but without his sister. When asked by his mother about where his sister was, he told that he had not seen her after 7 pm. Following this, the two along with their relatives searched for her. Her body was found in a pond on December 16 by the mother and the police were alerted. According to the TOI, a part of the girl’s clothes were missing when the body was found. The minor victim is survived by her mother, who is also a daily wage worker and her brother who is a student of Class 7. The local police had registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the IPC. (POCSO) and sections of the Indian Penal Code.

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Video: Narrow escape for Karnataka woman after she falls while boarding moving train

Accident

The incident took place in Ballari on Saturday night.

Soumya Chatterjee

In a narrow escape, a woman was saved by alert bystanders and a policeman in Karnataka’s Ballari on Saturday while trying to board a moving train. CCTV visuals of the incident show a woman running with her two bags in hand to board the moving train. She attempts to climb on board, but falls back onto the platform, even as she gets dragged by the moving train. Onlookers on the platform including a Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable immediately rush to her help, and pull her to safety. Scary video from Ballri.Constable SM Raffi and others saved a woman from getting run over by a train pic.twitter.com/xQLpZoJQ8z — Soumya Chatterjee (@Csoumya21) December 22, 2019 The woman has been identified as 21-year-old Rashmi. The incident occurred when the woman was attempting to board the 11304 Kolhapur Hyderabad Express from Platform no 2 at around 8:50 pm on Saturday. The RPF constable has been identified as SM Raffi. Rashmi said that she was thankful to the RPF constable and others who saved her life. She was running late and was desperate to get onto the train as she had to board a flight from Hyderabad and feared she would miss her flight too if she missed the train. However, she managed to board the flight as it was delayed and reached Hyderabad on a private bus.  In May this year, a 45-year-old man had a similar brush with death at the Hosapete Railway Station. The CCTV footage of the incident shows a man in a white shirt, carrying a black bag in his hand trying to get on board the train which was already in motion. He, however, slips and partially falls between the track and the platform. He then gets dragged onto the platform even as one passenger tries to pull him inside. An alert policeman, however, manages to rescue him by getting a hold him, preventing him from going under the wheels of the train. Video: Alert cop saves Karnataka man after he slips trying to board moving train    

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BJP cadre stabbed in Bengaluru, police say no evidence of political rivalry

Crime

Varun was returning home after attending pro-CAA protest when he was attacked

Theja Ram

A 31-year-old Bengaluru man was stabbed after he was returning from the pro-CAA protest held in the city on Sunday morning. DCP West B Ramesh told TNM the victim, Varun Bhoopalam, a BJP party worker was allegedly waylaid by four men in two bikes when he was returning home from the protest. Varun Bhoopalam, a local businessman, and a resident of JP Nagar is a BJP functionary involved in the party’s activities in South Bengaluru. Varun was allegedly heading back home from Town Hall, where the pro-CAA protest was held, and was a kilometre away on Jayachamaraja Road, when four men on two bikes allegedly waylaid him and began beating him up. “He was on a two-wheeler. His bike was stopped by four men on two bikes. He was stabbed on his head and he has a stab injury on his back. We are trying to look at CCTV footage to identify the suspects,” DCP Ramesh said. He said that prima facie, it appears to be an incident borne out of personal differences and not one of political rivalry. “We don’t have evidence that it was politically motivated. Once we question the suspects, we will be able to find out what happened. It looks like a personal issue,” DCP Ramesh said. The Kalasipalya police have registered an FIR against unidentified assailants under section 307 (attempt to murder), 334 (voluntarily causing hurt with dangerous weapon), 322 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) and 34 (common intention). Varun Bhoopalam was rushed to Victoria Hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment. Doctors at Victoria Hospital told TNM that Varun’s injuries have been treated and he is currently out of danger. DCP Ramesh said that the rumors that Varun was stabbed by political rivals are not to be believed unless the investigation reveals such information.    

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Pro-CAA protest held in Bengaluru, but permission denied for anti-CAA 'sathyagraha'

CAA

The pro-CAA protest comes in the wake of BJP National General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav announcing that the BJP would begin a campaign to rally for the CAA.

Theja Ram

Amidst large-scale protests across India against the Citizenship Amendment Act, several right-wing groups held a protest in support of the CAA on Sunday in Bengaluru. Around 500 people had gathered at Bengaluru’s Town Hall at 10 am and began shouting slogans supporting the CAA. Supporters and members of the Hindu Janajagruthi Samiti, the group whose members have been accused of killing journalist Gauri Lankesh, were also present at the protest.  People held placards stating “We support CAA” and began chanting “Modi, Modi, Modi…” “We want CAA, we want CAA” was the primary slogan heard.  Pro-CAA rally held in Bengaluru even as cops deny permission to hold an anti-CAA Satyagraha hat the Quddus Saheb Edigah. @thenewsminute #CAA_NRC_Protest pic.twitter.com/MrH4SeACb6 — Theja Ram (@thejaram92) December 22, 2019 The police had given permission to organisers of this protest to conduct the event. The pro-CAA protest comes in the wake of BJP National General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav announcing that the BJP would begin a campaign to rally for the CAA. Yadav’s announcement came after thousands of students and citizens came out to protest against the CAA since December 15.  No permission for anti-CAA protest Even as the pro-CAA protest was conducted in Bengaluru, the police refused to grant permission for the ‘sathyagraha’ against the CAA, which was slated to be held at the Quddus Saheb Edigah located in Bengaluru’s Benson Town. Speaking to TNM, Vinay Sreenivasa from Alternative Law Forum said that the organisers had obtained permission from the Chairperson and Managing Committee of the Jumma Masjid Trust Board to hold the sathyagraha within the grounds but they were not allowed to hold the event. “The place we had chosen to hold the sathyagraha is private property. Yet, the Bharatinagar Police refused to let us conduct the event stating that we had to obtain police permission of the gathering. Section 144 has been lifted in Bengaluru, and yet they are not allowing a gathering on private property? Police permission is required only if protests are taking place on public property,” Vinay Sreenivasa said. Why the pro-CAA protest was held Over the past week, protests have been organised against the controversial Act. The protests, which initially started in Assam, spread to New Delhi, where students of Jamia Milia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University staged massive protests against the CAA. The students stated that the law is discriminatory against certain communities, while it gives preference to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Christians and Zoroastrians. Although the amendment is meant for citizenship to immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, the protesters say that it sets a precedent for rolling out discriminatory laws in the future, which may affect the minorities in the country. As the protests grew larger, the government, unwilling to roll back the law, decided to conduct a campaign to “educate people” about the CAA. “The BJP has decided to conduct a 10-day campaign to educate 3 crore people in the country about the misconceptions regarding CAA,”  BJP National General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in an interview with Times Now, on Saturday said that there was no question of rolling back the CAA.    

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Two people who died in Mangaluru police firing booked for rioting

CAA

Two days after this FIR was filed, BS Yediyurappa announced compensation for their families.

Prajwal Bhat

PTI

After Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa assured there will be an inquiry into the police firing that killed two people in the anti-CAA stir in Mangaluru, it has come to light that the two deceased have been booked for rioting. Abdul Jaleel (49) and Nouseen Yane (23) who succumbed to their injuries on Friday were named as accused number 3 and accused number 8 in the FIR registered under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Karnataka Prevention of Destruction and Loss of Property Act. Though a private hospital in Mangaluru confirmed that both of them were brought dead, and Jaleel according to multiple witnesses was only waiting for his children to come back from tuition, the FIR alleging rioting has been filed by the police. Two days after the FIR was filed, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, met the families of the victims and directed Deputy Commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh to announce compensation for them. Speaking to the media, BS Yediyurappa justified the police act of firing at the protesters by saying that the protesters threatened to attack Mangaluru North Bunder police station and use the police weapons stored there. The FIR no 133 of 2019 in Mangalore North PS was registered under sections 143 (punishment for unlawful assembly), 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting with deadly weapon), 188 (disobedience to order by public servant), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to  (deter public servant from his duty)., 324 (Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means.), 427 (Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 397 (Robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), 120B (party to criminal conspiracy), 149 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) of the IPC. Abdul and Nouseen were daily-wage labourers in Mangaluru. Abdul worked odd jobs related to fishing in Dhakke, a popular fish market in the city. Nouseen was involved in welding works. The Mangaluru City Police alleged that the duo were part of violent protests against the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) held on Thursday.  The protest was organised despite the imposition of prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC in the city.  Read: 'Why were bullets fired?': Friends of victims of Mangaluru violence question police firing Abdul Jaleel, is survived by his wife Faiza Fathima (Zara) and two children 14-year old Shifani and 10-year old son Sabil while the other victim Nouseen is survived by his brothers Noufal and Noushad along with his parents.According to the police, the protestors, including members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and several Muslim organisations gathered near the DC office in Mangaluru at 2:30 pm.   After the protests were clamped down by police through lathi charge and tear gas, a series of stone pelting incidents erupted near Mangaluru North (Bunder) police station at 4:30 pm. Police alleged that protesters resorted to burning tyres and other scrap material on the road and converged on Mangaluru North (Bunder) Police Station from three sides.  At this point, police began firing at the protesters to deter them, they claim. TNM has earlier reported how the bullet hit Jaleel in the eye, doctors at Highland Hospital confirmed. At that time, Jaleel was waiting for his two children Shifani and Sabil, to return home and was not even part of the rally, according to his family and friends. Read: Curfew to be lifted in Mangaluru from December 23: Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa Abdul Jaleel and Nouseen Yane (previously reported as Nouseen Kudroli) were shot dead in the firing while at least nine others suffered injuries. Though the police claim that they shot into the crowd for their own safety, multiple videos that have emerged question the police's version. One video shows police shooting at a crowd that is standing quite far. In another video, policemen are heard exhorting each other saying, 'not one person has died'. A third video shows protesters shouting slogans, trying to go ahead with their rally, when police begin the lathicharge. Many of those who protested have alleged that the stone pelting started only after the lathi charge. Apart from the victims, police officials in Mangaluru North (Bunder), Mangaluru South (Pandeshwar) and Mangaluru East (Kadri) police stations registered at least seven FIRs in connection with Thursday's violent incidents. 47 others were named in FIRs registered in these stations. This includes Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) General Secretary Sahul S.  Over 1000 unknown persons were also accused in the FIRs. Police say around 1,500 persons were involved in the violent incidents near Mangaluru North( Bunder) Police Station.

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13 out of 15 newly-elected Karnataka MLAs take oath

Politics

Congress’ Rizwan Arshad and HP Manjunath skipped the swearing-in ceremony in Vidhana Soudha.

TNM Staff

Karnataka Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri on Sunday administered oath to 13 out of the 15 newly-elected MLAs of Karnataka, who emerged victorious in the December 5 bye-polls.  The swearing-in ceremony took place in the Vidhana Soudha’s Banquet Hall. While all the BJP MLA-elects and independent MLA Sharath Bachegowda attended the swearing-in ceremony as scheduled, Congress MLA-elects Rizwan Arshad and HP Manjunath gave the occasion a miss. As of now it is not clear if they skipped the ceremony due to the recent stir against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the state and country. Both the MLAs could not be reached for a comment. Incidentally, two more persons in Mangaluru have succumbed to their injuries after police opened fire to disperse a group of protesters in Mangalore North Police Station limits on Thursday. The death toll in Mangaluru has now risen to four. In the results declared on December 9, all rebel MLAs who were previously with the Congress-JD(S) won the byepolls on a BJP ticket, barring MTB Nagaraj and AH Vishwanath.  While Sharath Bachegowda, a BJP rebel defeated MTB Nagaraj in Hosakote, Manjunath emerged victorious against former JD(S) candidate Vishwanath in Hunsur. Former Minister Roshan Baig, who rebelled against the Congress and was not inducted into the BJP, chose not to contest the bye-polls in Shivajinagara, where Congress’ Rizwan Arshad secured a victory. Ramesh Jarkiholi (Gokak), Byrathi Basavaraj (KR Puram), BC Patil (Hirekerur), ST Somashekhar (Yeshwantpur), Mahesh Kumathalli (Athani), Anand B Singh (Vijayanagar), Shivram Hebbar (Yellapur), K Sudhakar (Chikkaballapur), Narayana Gowda (Krishnarajapet) Shrimant Patil (Kagwad) and K Gopalaiah (Mahalakshmi Layout) won the bye-polls from their previously held seats ensuring further stabilty for the BS Yediyurappa government. The bye-elections were necessitated after 17 MLAs were disqualified following their rebellion against the then Congress-JD(S) coalition government. Their rebellion brought down the Congress-JD(S) government and paved way for the BJP to come to power. A majority of these victorious rebels are likely to get plum ministerial posts as announced by CM Yediyurappa both ahead and post- elections. With the swearing-in complete, the portfolio allocation for the new MLAs are expected to be approved by the BJP central leadership led by the Home Minister and party chief Amit Shah. Ramesh Jarkiholi, who spearheaded the rebellion against the coalition government, is said to have his eyes on the coveted Water Resource Ministry as the Deputy CM post appears unlikely to be handed to him.  BJP sources had earlier told TNM that KR Puram MLA Byrathi Basavaraj has asked for another coveted portfolio, the Bengaluru Development Ministry. Party insiders claim that both ST Somashekar, the MLA from Yeshwanthpur, and Basavaraj want the same portfolio, which is currently held by CM Yediyurappa. Meanwhile, Mahesh Kumatahalli, MLA from Athani, is seeking the Small and Medium Scale Industries portfolio, while Vijayanagara MLA Anand Singh has asked for the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

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