Gold and cash seized as ACB conducts searches on Karnataka govt officials

Crime

Rs 56.5 lakh in cash and 400 gm of gold have been seized from one location alone.

TNM Staff

The Anti-Corruption Bureau conducted search operations on Tuesday morning at 30 locations in Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka connected to seven government officials for alleged corruption. The raids which are still undergoing have led to seizure of Rs 56.5 lakh in cash and 400 gm of gold from one location alone. The cash and gold seized were from the residence of an Executive Engineer in Dharwad. In a statement, the ACB, said, “Today disproportionate asset cases are registered in Bengaluru city, Ballari, Kolar ,  Dharwad, Dakshina Kannada , Chitradurga and Kalburgi districts against seven government servants and searches started in 30 places under the supervision of SPs (Superintendent of Police).”  In Bengaluru, searches were held at the residence of Pandurang Garag, the Joint Registrar of Cooperatives. The officials who were subjected to these “raids” also included doctors. Dr SN Vijaykumar, District Health Officer, Kolar and Dr Srinivas, Head of Department, Pharmacology, KIMS Koppal were among them. Other officials who were searched were Jayaraj KV, Joint Director Town Planning, Mangalore Mahanagara Palike, Channabasappa Avati, Junior Engineer, Public Works Department, Magadi Subdivision, Devraj Kallesh, Executive Engineer, Minor irrigation Department in Shiggavi,Dharwad and Srinivas, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Dharwad. These raids by the ACB come after high profile raids were conducted in Bengaluru and other nearby areas in November 2020 against Karnataka Administrative Service officer B Sudha. The ACB  had then seized Rs 10 lakh in cash and an SUV vehicle. Sudha who is now administrator of the Information Technology and Biotechnology Department was previously posted as the Special Land Acquisition Officer in the Bangalore Development Authority.

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3pK6YtQ
via IFTTT

Aero India 2021: Here are the roads to avoid in Bengaluru and alternate routes

Aero India 2021

The modifications will be in effect from February 3 to February 5, between 5 am and 10 pm.

TNM Staff

File Image

The 13th edition of the periodic air show and exhibition Aero India will commence in Bengaluru’s Yelahanka Air Force Base on February 3. In the view of same, to avoid traffic congestions and maintain a free flow of traffic, the Bengaluru traffic police have put in place traffic diversions and alternative route arrangements. These modifications will be in effect from February 3 to February 5, between 5 am to 10 pm. Traffic police personnel will be deployed to help the public navigate through these modifications. The police have allowed only one-way traffic movement on the Bengaluru-Bellary road from Satyapalli to Sadahalli gate. Prohibition on vehicular movement has been implemented for the route to Ambiance Dhaba House Cross. Furthermore, they have forbidden any traffic movement from Reva College Junction to Bagalur Cross Road. Vehicles going towards Chikkajala through the Airport Backgate (Begur Power Station), Chikkachal-Mylanahalli main road has been blocked. Vehicular movement of heavy vehicles like lorries, trucks and private passenger buses have been prohibited on the following routes as well. The BMTC and KSRTC buses, and those vehicles with passes to the exhibition will be allowed to access these roads, the statement read. Alternatives from places like Devanahalli, Ring Road, Nice Road and Hoskote areas for these heavy vehicles coming to Bengaluru from different cities like Hyderabad have been issued by the traffic police to avoid inconveniencing the public and congestion of traffic. Also read: Bengaluru to host air show Aero India 2021 on Feb 3: Three main highlights Moreover, the traffic police have also issued zone-wise routes for those who plan on heading towards Kempegowda International Airport. Commuters from across aouth and east Bengaluru can use major roads such as K R Puram, Bagalur, Begur, Mysuru Road, Goraguntepalya, Periyaballapur and others to reach the airport. The notification also mentions that the parking of vehicles on either side of the road at Reva College Junction, Ambience Dhaba House Cross, Nagenahalli gate, Periyaballapur Main Road, Goraguntepalya junction and other places has been banned. Additionally, no parking will be allowed on the route from Hunsamarahalli Junction to Kodagalahatti on the Bengaluru-Bellary road. A fast-traffic corridor has also been created from the Yelahanka Coffee Day junction to Indian Air Force Gate 2A for smooth traffic flow. 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2MJoRKw
via IFTTT

Shivamogga blast: Karnataka govt orders probe by Revenue Commissioner

Shivamogga blast

Siddaramaiah had demanded a judicial probe into the Shivamogga blast that killed six people on January 21.

PTI

Rejecting the demand by opposition Congress, the Karnataka government on Monday declared that the probe into the blast in Shivamogga district that killed six people would be conducted by the Revenue Commissioner. Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah staged a walkout reacting to the decision, alleging that the state government's adamant stand on the probe is a clear indication that they are trying to protect individuals. "The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's adamant stand is a reflection of their actions. Your words on illegal mining and actions do not match. There is suspicion in your commitment, therefore, we (Congress) are staging a walkout in protest," Siddaramaiah said. Shivamogga is the home district of Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa as well as state Revenue Minister KS Eshwarappa. The Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency is represented by Yediyurappa's eldest son BY Raghvendra. As soon as Home, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Basavaraj Bommai made this announcement, Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah asserted that a judicial commission headed by a sitting high court judge should be constituted 'for the truth to come out'. Bommai repeatedly contended that Karnataka would not allow illegal quarrying or mining in the state. Six people were killed in a powerful explosion of a truckload of gelatin sticks at a stone crushing unit in Shivamogga district on January 21. Replying on behalf of the BJP government over the incident and the probe related to it, Bommai admitted that illegal quarrying or mining has been going on for some years now under successive state governments. He said there was a nexus between landholders, quarry landholders, explosive material suppliers and some officials leading to such illegal activities. "We need to break it by taking steps like increasing the fines and jail term for breaking rules and making 'mineral protection force' effective," Bommai added. On the Shivamogga incident, Bommai said officials had given the owners license for crushing despite knowing that illegal mining or quarrying was taking place at the site and cases were booked against them earlier. "Explosive materials had arrived from Andhra Pradesh. It looks like no rules/ regulations or permit conditions were followed. Investigations are on and we will act stringently against all those responsible," the Minister said. On Siddaramaiah's demand that those guilty must be booked under Section 302 of IPC for murder, instead of Section 304 (culpable homicide), the state Home Minister asserted that it can be done in due course based on the investigation. "The government has taken this case seriously, especially transportation and storage of large quantities of explosives. Though reports suggest it was nearly 1,350 kg, only a probe can ascertain it," he said, adding that control on transportation of explosives is necessary to check illegal mining. The state Home minister said as part of the probe, police have seized such materials in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh which in itself is a worrying sign. "I am more worried about large quantities of gelatin sticks being transported and imagining its outcome, if this explosive reaches in the hands of anti-social elements or terrorists," he said. He said the state government was taking steps to control 'excessive hoarding' of explosives, as he noted that cases were booked against those involved under the stringent Explosives Act.

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2YxNzjP
via IFTTT

Three held for attack on woman in Mangaluru restaurant

Crime

Police officials said the girl and one of the accused had been in touch on social media and she had later spurned the friendship.

PTI

Three youths have been arrested in Mangaluru on charges ofattempting to molest a teenaged girl and vandalising a bar-cum-restaurant here where she was celebrating her birthday along with friends, police said on Monday. CCTV footage of the incident that happened on Saturday was shared widely on social media. The accused, one of whom was known to the 18-year old woman, had tried to molest her in the restaurant and attacked her friends with lethal weapons, police commissioner N Shashi Kumar told reporters here on Monday. The incident took place at Coconut Grove restaurant at Bendoorwell in the city around 12:45 pm on Saturday afternoon.  Two of the arrested were aged 19 while the other was 18. They are Thrishool Salian, Santhosh Poojary and Dyanish Aran D'Crus. The commissioner said the woman, pursuing her PUC, was staying with her grandparents and her parents are away in Canada. The girl and one of the accused hadbeen in touch through social media and she had later spurned the friendship. The youth, along with his two friends, had barged into the restaurant and attacked them, the Commissioner said. TNM had earlier reported the attack that took place at the restaurant was caught on CCTV camera. The visuals showed men barging into the restaurant and attacking a group of people along with the woman. Police said the woman did not sustain injuries in the incident however one of the people with her sustained minor injuries.  Police said that the attackers planned the assault after the woman rejected the advances of one of the men. A first information report was registered at the Kadri (Mangaluru East) police station in the case accusing the trio Thrishool, Santhosh and Dyanish under charges of rioting, unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation and assault. Police said that they are investigating the case further. 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3cw4zPu
via IFTTT

These states had big plans for addressing Covid disparities. They’re still struggling to vaccinate underserved communities.

Efforts to address shortfalls hindered by missing data and disorganization

from Health Care https://ift.tt/2YA4Mch
via IFTTT

New CDC data shows stark disparities in coronavirus shots

President Joe Biden wants an equitable distribution of the coronavirus vaccine, but preliminary reports showcase just how much ground will need to be made up.

from Health Care https://ift.tt/2YB2zxm
via IFTTT

Biden Covid adviser tells providers to stop stockpiling vaccine

Andy Slavitt's remarks come as the Biden team tries to accelerate the pace of vaccinations and get a better hold on the whereabouts of roughly 19 million doses that were shipped but not yet administered.

from Health Care https://ift.tt/3pKyYO0
via IFTTT