Restrictions on New Year's Eve celebrations in Mangaluru: Details

The order is along the lines of the restrictions in Bengaluru ahead of New Year's day.

TNM Staff

Following the imposition of restrictions under section 144 of the CrPC in Bengaluru on New Year's Eve, similar restrictions were announced in Mangaluru city limits from 6 pm on December 31 to 6 am on January 1. Mangaluru Police Commissioner Vikash Kumar issued prohibitory orders restricting the gathering of five or more people and restricting any form of gatherings in public places, main roads, beaches and open areas for the purpose of any celebrations. While no new year celebrations will be allowed outside, in-house celebrations in residential complexes and private clubs can be held for residents and members. Hotels, malls, pubs and clubs can conduct regular business but cannot organise new year celebrations of dance parties. The orders were issued along the lines of the orders in Bengaluru where section 144 of CrPC will be in place from 12 pm on Thursday. Unlike in the past, people will not be able to gather in large numbers in the city in areas like M G Road, Brigade Road, Koramangala and Indira Nagar, among other places, as prohibitory orders are in place. Vehicles will also be not allowed to ply between 8 p.m. on Thursday and 6 am on Friday on MG Road, Brigade Road, Church Street, Museum Road and Residency Road in the central business district to prevent New Year revellers from assembling to usher in 2021. "Citizens are, however, free to usher in the New Year in their houses, flats, gated communities and residential areas under the guidelines without special events or get-togethers," Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant said. Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai also said that directions have been issued to not to hold DJ events, parties and open air celebrations in cities like Mysuru and Chikkamagaluru and top police officials have been tasked with implementing it.  

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Karnataka CM appeals to 'missing' UK returnees to cooperate with govt

The CM's appeal comes in the wake of seven people, who returned to the state from the UK recently, testing positive for the new strain of the virus

TNM Staff

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday appealed to all "missing" UK returnees to get tested for the new strain of coronavirus, for their own safety and also to curb the spread of the infection. "As the Chief Minister of the state, I urge all those who have returned from the UK to come forward and get their health check up done. See to it that you don't create trouble for others," Yediyurappa told reporters. Yediyurappa tweeted: "Dear citizens, the danger of corona has still not subsided. As we enter into the New Year even a slightest ignorance regarding the pandemic is not done. Follow the government's guidelines and rules and stay safe by taking all the necessary precautionary measures, and cooperate." The CM's appeal comes in the wake of seven people, who returned to the state from the UK recently, testing positive for the new strain of the virus and who are undergoing treatment at designated hospitals in the city. A total of 2,500 people have come to the state from the UK between November 25 and December 22 on two flights -- Air India and British Airways. Till Tuesday evening, the Karnataka health department said 29 people had tested positive so far. It is unclear how many UK returnees are yet to be traced by the government. In view of some UK returnees going off the radar, Karnataka's health department has sought the home department's help to locate them. The CM ruled out any change in the COVID-19 safety guidelines for now as the danger of coronavirus has not subsided. "There is no change in guidelines at this point in time. If there is any instructions from Delhi (Union government), let's see then," he said in response to a query. The Chief Minister said that the Union Health Ministry is monitoring the spread of the new UK variant of coronavirus in India, therefore Karnataka cannot decide on its own. "We will wait for fresh guidelines from them only then the state will think of changing present COVID-19 safety protocols," he said, adding that until then all will have to remain alert and test those who have come from outside. The CM's appeal comes ahead of the New Year, even as the government has prohibited parties, special DJ dance programmes and special events at clubs, pubs, restaurants and other places that attract people in large numbers in a bid to keep the virus spread under check. Gathering of people at public places and roads for celebrations has also been prohibited, but routine activities can be carried out at these places.

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Trump misses 20 million Covid shot target

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Warp Speed chief: U.S. won’t get AstraZeneca vaccine until April

The Trump vaccine official said there are still questions about the shot's effectiveness, even as U.K. regulators authorized it Wednesday.

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Going out on New Year’s Eve in Bengaluru? Here’s the list of rules you should know

NYE

The Bengaluru Police announced a night curfew from December 31, 2020 at 6 pm to January 1, 2021 at 6 am within the city limits.

TNM Staff

Representative Image/Pixabay

The Karnataka government had earlier announced a ban on the New Year’s revelry due to the pandemic. With the emergence of the new variant of the virus from the UK, the government announced guidelines to ensure ‘simple’ celebrations. The Bengaluru Police announced a night curfew from December 31, 2020 at 6 pm to January 1, 2021 at 6 am within the city limits.  The following restrictions are in place:  No special events for clubs, pubs, hotels or restaurants Clubs, pubs, hotels, malls and restaurants have been barred from hosting special events such as live music, special performances, DJ nights etc. However, their regular business is exempted from the ban.  No gathering at clubs, pubs, hotels or restaurants Movements of larger groups have been restricted by the state government. A group of more than four people cannot assemble. People have also been restricted from queueing outside venues such as pubs, clubs, hotels and restaurants. Beware of the no-man zones The Bengaluru Police have also created ‘no-man’ zones at party hubs such as MG Road, Brigade Road and Church Street to prevent crowding of the public spaces.  No celebrations in any open spaces Celebrations in public spaces such as parks and streets have been banned to curb from the spread of the virus. In residential societies, parties for residents can be hosted in their private clubhouses, without arranging for special events.  No entry without prior reservations Remember to carry e-receipts of your reservations since entry for people without prior bookings have been barred. The notified areas’ DCPs will closely monitor that management adheres to the rule and also regulates guest movement.  Prohibition of vehicular parking  The Bengaluru Police have prohibited vehicular parking on Infantry Road, Cubbon Road, Brigade Road, Indiranagar’s 100-ft Road, St Marks Road and Church Street from 4 pm on New Year’s Eve onwards.  Restrictions in the movement of traffic  Restrictions in the movement of vehicles have been imposed on parts of Museum Road, Brigade Road, Church Street and MG Road to stop crowding. Vehicular movement on these roads have been banned, except for police and emergency duty vehicles from 8 pm on December 31, 2020 to 6 am on January 1, 2021. Motorists need to be wary of the modifications in the routes made by the Bengaluru Police. Major signals and junctions will also be barricaded to regulate traffic across the city. Restrictions in the use of overpasses The police have also placed restrictions on the use of following overpasses (flyovers) — elevated flyover from Roopenagrahara to Electronic City access road, Jayadeva flyover, Dairy Circle flyover, Kadugodi Flyover and Sarjapur flyover. Access will be limited on these flyovers from 10 pm on December 31 to 6 am on January 1, 2021. Stringent action against the violators In their press note, Bengaluru Police also cautioned that any motorist caught indulging in reckless behaviour, drunk driving or inconveniencing the public will be subjected to stringent disciplinary action. Subsequently, motorists suspected of drunk driving will be detained and will have to undergo a medical examination.     

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Sedition case filed after alleged pro-Pak slogans during poll celebrations in K’taka

Sedition

Dakshina Kannada Police said a video was circulated allegedly showing pro-Pakistan slogans being raised during celebrations by SDPI in Ujire.

Prajwal Bhat

Police in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka on Wednesday registered an FIR (first information report) after pro-Pakistan slogans were allegedly raised during celebrations by Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) members when their candidate won in the Gram Panchayat election. The celebrations were held in front of SDM College in Ujire in Dakshina Kannada and an FIR was registered at the Belthangady police station under 124A (sedition) and other relevant sections of the penal code. The identity of those who chanted the slogans are yet to be established. Speaking with TNM, District Superintendent of Police, BM Laxmi Prasad said a video was circulated which showed pro-Pakistan slogans being allegedly raised during celebrations by SDPI in Ujire.  He said, “It happened during SDPI’s celebrations when their candidate won in the Gram Panchayat elections. But we don’t know who has shouted in the crowd.” The celebrations took place at 2:30 pm on Wednesday. “During the Gram Panchayat election counting on 30.12.2020, an FIR was registered against some miscreants in Ujire for chanting pro-Pakistan slogans,” a press statement by the police in Dakshina Kannada said.  The FIR has been registered under Sections 143 (Punishment for a member of an unlawful assembly),124A (sedition)  read with 149 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object.) of the Indian Penal Code.  As reported earlier counting of votes for gram panchayat polls were underway since morning. Karnataka State Election Commission officials said counting was on at all 226 centres at the Taluk headquarters by adhering to strict COVID-19 protocol of mandatory wearing of face masks, social distancing and hand hygiene. During the election, ballot papers were used in all districts except Bidar, election officials said. The elections to 5,728 village panchayats had taken place across 226 Taluks of the state for 82,616 seats. They were conducted in two phases on December 22 and 27 where 78.58 per cent voting was registered. As many as 2,22,814 candidates contested the election whereas 8,074 candidates were elected unopposed.

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Limited clientele, fear of infection: How Bengaluru tattoo artists fared in 2020

Lifestyle

Most tattoo studios dealt with more than two-three clients a day in a pre-pandemic world and have reduced to one client a day now

Sanjana Deshpande

Image for Representation/ PTI

Tattoo artists in Bengaluru began opening their businesses in August, when the government first announced the easing of lockdown restrictions. Like many other service providers, the tattoo industry was hit hard by the pandemic. However, tattoo artists too found ways to adapt to the pandemic. Early this year, the artists took to visiting clients’ houses to provide their services, in order to sustain themselves through the pandemic. However, house visits meant an increased risk of infection for both parties, and the service was stopped. Pradeep, who runs Dark Arts in Bengaluru’s Kormangala and is the President of Karnataka State Tattoo Artists’ Association, said that they advised members to not do house visits for this reason. Later, when the Unlock guidelines were issued, Karthik of Sculp Tattoo Studio recounts how they resumed their operations on a bittersweet note. “Designing a tattoo for our first client post-Unlock left me perturbed. She had recently lost a friend to COVID-19 and got a tattoo in his memory,” he said. The artist, who has expertise in free-hand tattoos, mentioned that before the pandemic struck, the studio saw an influx of clients from around the world who were in the city. However, with travel restrictions now reducing the clientele, business has taken a hit. Pradeep of Dark Arts Tattoo Studio had a similar experience. He said that in a pre-pandemic world, they tended to two-three customers a day. The number is now limited to one client a day. “When the lockdown was first imposed, people wanted to get tattoos to kill their boredom and our phone was constantly buzzing. By the time we reopened, the coronavirus cases had surged and people were scared of stepping out. We struggled to survive during the lockdown,” he added. However, for Suresh Machu of Machu Tattoo Studio, the story was different. Although they noticed a dip in customers across their various locations in Bengaluru, they saw a significant rise in student enrollment in their tattoo school because of everything going digital. “The business now is in better shape. We did online campaigns and used government aid in sanitation. This prompted people to shed their reservations and visit us. We follow all the protocols and have started giving online consultations,” said Suresh when asked about how they encouraged clients to get tattoos post Unlock. To ensure the safety of every client in Sculp Tattoo Studio, customers are handed out a consent form before an appointment is scheduled. At the studio, they are mindful of keeping a larger gap between appointments to sanitise the space. Apart from limiting the number of clients for tattoos, Pradeep of Darks Arts Tattoo Studio has been accepting little to no clients for piercing work. On an odd day when he does, he said that they schedule the appointment at the end of the day. Machu Tattoo Studio also limits the number of clients per day. “We used to design tattoos for customers who would just walk in, too. Keeping in mind the safety of everyone, we have stopped the service. We even sent artists to clients’ places, but following the government’s order, we halted those services too,” Suresh Machu said. The artists are bracing themselves to deal with the blow that could possibly come with new variants of the coronavirus being discovered. “Although it’s too early to comment on the situation as the government needs to do their research too, we are preparing ourselves. We just hope that the New Year ushers in with fewer worries,” said Pradeep of Dark Arts studio. Karthik, although uncertain, hopes that his business picks up in the coming year. Suresh Machu said that they are looking forward to embracing whatever comes their way. “A couple of years ago, all [members of an informal tattoo artists’ club] of us were discussing how teaching tattoo art online was impossible; here we are running the digital programme. We are planning to further widen the programme. I hope that 2021 treats everyone good after the gruelling year,” Machu concluded on a hopeful note.  

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