Karnataka govt allows 100% seating in movie theatres for four weeks

Theatres

The decision may be reversed if there is a spike in COVID-19 cases, Health Minister K Sudhakar said.

TNM Staff

The Karnataka government has decided to allow 100% occupancy in cinema halls, including movie theatres in malls for four weeks beginning Friday, February 5. The move is a reversal from the government’s earlier decision to allow 50% occupancy of theatres across the state until February 28.  Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday evening, Health Minister K Sudhakar stated that further guidelines would be released on Thursday, and the public should carefully check the rules and adhere to them.  The minister stated that these four weeks would be a trial period for allowing theatres to work with 100% occupancy. If a spike in COVID-19 cases is observed during that period, the government may roll back the decision, he said.  The Union government on Saturday issued a new Standard Operating Procedure that allows theatres and multiplexes to function at full seating capacity from February 1. This includes physical distancing in common areas, use of face covers or masks and entry to only asymptomatic individuals.  “We were given four weeks' time and it is a lesson for us as an industry to see how we can cope with this. Sanitisation, use of masks, maintaining temperature should be looked into, and in four weeks we hope to have complete solvation of the issues,” said actor Shivrajkumar. The decision comes after the Kannada film industry, known as Sandalwood, protested the government’s decision to continue 50% occupancy until the end of February. Distributors and producers had appealed to the Chief Minister to allow full seating capacity, using the hashtag #KFIDemandsFullOccupancy as part of their protest.  Actors including Dhruva Sarja, whose film Pogaru is releasing on February 19, Shivarajkumar, Puneeth Rajkumar and Dhananjaya took part in the protest.  Producers had previously told TNM that they were upset over the state’s decision to maintain 50% capacity, after the Union government had given its go-ahead for full seating capacity.  Earlier, the Tamil Nadu government had issued an order allowing 100% seating capacity for theatres. However, the state government ultimately reversed the decision due to criticism from doctors and healthcare workers over fear of the spread of COVID-19.

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Karnataka transport workers threaten to strike again if demands unmet

Transport

The workers had staged an agitation in December 2020, and had called it off when the Karnataka government said it would meet their demands.

TNM Staff

Representational Image

Transport employees in Karnataka have threatened to renew their agitation again if their demands in regard to regularisation and receiving healthcare benefits are not met. Workers of transport unions including Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) had staged an agitation in December 2020, and called it off when they received assurance from the state government that their demands will be met. However, prominent farmer leader Kodihalli Chandrashekhar, who is the honorary president of the Karnataka State Road Transport Employees League, on Tuesday alleged that the state government has failed to comply with its promises. "We had, in December, put forth ten demands from our end and the government had given us in writing that nine out of them will be met within three months. Out of the nine, the government has not even fulfilled one, and 45 days have already passed. We will stage an indefinite strike once more if the demands are not met with,” Chandrashekhar said.  He added that the issues faced by the employees of KSRTC and BMTC have not been resolved at all. They still are receiving half their wage which has aggravated their financial conditions; and health benefits have not been provided yet, he alleged. Meanwhile, The Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Transport Lakshman Savadi maintained on Wednesday that the state government has been working towards fulfilling the needs of the employees.  Without divulging details, the minister claimed that three out of nine demands were already met with. “We still have 45 days to meet the demands of the employees, but I assure the employees that I will solve these issues within the next 15 days. A committee has been formed to monitor the redressal of the grievances expressed by the employees and to implement the health benefit plan,” he told TNM.   The unions had staged an agitation in December 2020 bringing the city’s bus transport service to a grinding halt. Upon being handed over a written assurance in which nine of the 10 demands were accepted by the state government through their representative, BMTC’s Chairman Nandish Reddy, the leaders had withdrawn the strike.   The demands of the employees were to bring them under the government's payroll, provide the same privileges of government employees, a compensation of Rs 30 lakh to those who died during COVID-19 duty, healthcare benefits and implementation of Sixth Pay Commission recommendations, of which, considering them under government’s payroll was declared null and void. 

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#KFIDemandsFullOccupancy: Sandalwood demands 100% occupancy in cinema theatres

Entertainment

On Wednesday, Dhruva Sarja, who’s film Pogaru is set to release on February 19, joined actors like Shivarajkumar, Puneeth Rajkumar, Dhananjaya in demanding 100% occupancy.

Sanjana Deshpande

Pixabay

Stars of the Kannada film industry, otherwise known as Sandalwood, took to Twitter to protest against the State Government’s decision to allow only 50% occupancy in movie theatres across the state until February 28. This decision was taken in spite of Union Government’s permission to cinema halls to function with full seating capacity. With several big releases ahead of them, the decision did not go down well with distributors and producers too demanding an audience with the Chief Minister to discuss the issue. On Wednesday, Dhruva Sarja, who’s film Pogaru is set to release on February 19, joined actors like Shivarajkumar, Puneeth Rajkumar, Dhananjaya in demanding the cinema halls be permitted to function with full seating capacity and also used the hashtag ‘#KFIDemandsFullOccupancy’ which was soon picked by many users.   @drashwathcn @CMofKarnataka @mla_sudhakar #KFIrequestsfulloccupancy pic.twitter.com/S7rxIUlAPM — Dhruva Sarja (@DhruvaSarja) February 3, 2021   A panel from the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, led by their president Jayaraj, is gearing up to meet Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday with their demands. Speaking to TNM, Jayaraj said, "A meeting has been scheduled for today. As and when the CM allocates time for the meeting, the delegation will speak to him requesting 100% occupancy. The Union Government has already issued orders that theatres can operate with full occupancy. We are hoping that the state government will also allow us to do the same." When contacted, Karnataka Producers’ Association President GK Ramakrishna told TNM, "We were fearful that our films won't collect revenue but Union Government's decision helped us and we heaved a sigh of relief. However, the state's decision was jolting.  The State government is going against the Union government’s decision. Our demand is to get full occupancy in theatres in the state and we will not settle unless they [the government] agree with our demands." Many distributors, producers, speaking out after Dhruva Sarja’s tweet questioned the government saying if public transport is allowed to function, if markets and malls are open then why not cinema halls be allowed to function with full capacity.  “After reviewing the current scenario of COVID-19 and also considering the possible second wave of COVID-19, it has been decided that as a matter of abundant precaution and in the larger interest of public health, 50% capacity of seating in cinema halls shall continue till 28th of February, 2021,” read the circular issued by the Department of Health saying that despite a decline in cases it was advisable to follow the Central health ministry’s guidelines. Shops, malls, multiplexes and entertainment parks - Depending on the size, the entry shall be regulated to avoid crowding. Special events that attract crowds shall be avoided. Hotels and restaurants should not exceed the full seating capacity, mentioned the circular. 

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Video: Dog trapped with leopard inside toilet in Karnataka for at least 7 hours

Animals

The two animals were found inside the toilet by a local resident who quickly bolted them in. Read on to know what happened next.

Prajwal Bhat

A stray dog in Karnataka’s Bilinele village found itself locked inside a toilet with a leopard for hours on Wednesday. The two animals were found inside the toilet by a local resident at 7 am and she quickly bolted the door and alerted the police.  Police officials tell TNM that the dog, who was being chased by the leopard, probably tried to hide in the toilet but the leopard managed to follow it inside. The lady of the house entered the toilet and saw the animal’s tail. She immediately locked the door and called her neighbours, Dakshina Kannada SP BM Laxmi Prasad told TNM. Visuals accessed by TNM showed the stray dog cowering in one corner, trying its best to stay away from the leopard, with just one commode to separate the two.  For the next seven hours, till 2 pm, the animals were shut inside the small room, which is separate from the main house, as authorities determined their course of action. Officials say the animals could have gotten into the room sometime during the night as well.   Around 8.45 am, officials arrived at the spot, but shortly after, crowds began to gather outside the home to try and catch a glimpse of the leopard. Visuals of the incident are being shared widely, showing several officials preparing to catch the leopard, loading a tranquilizer gun and carrying a massive empty cage outside the house in Bilinele. Other videos show dozens of spectators lining up near the house. In one video, the camera is pointed through a window of the toilet where the two animals are seated. At first, the animals remain still but once the leopard sees the camera, it lunges towards the window, baring its teeth at the person behind it.  Sharing a video I received from the spot. After the leopard and dog were spotted inside the toilet in the morning, curious passers-by joined forest department officials to figure out how to catch the leopard and release it to the forest. pic.twitter.com/9dLzlxTUOO — Prajwal (@prajwalmanipal) February 3, 2021 Attempting to capture the animal, officials decided to remove the asbestos sheet roof of the toilet to try and tranquilize the leopard. Nets were cast over the top of the toilet in hopes of catching the animal before it fled, SP BM Laxmi Prasad said. Officials used an earthmover to access the roof of the toilet, but the leopard managed to leap through the roof, break away from the nets and flee the scene.  A stray dog was chased by a leopard into a bathroom, were trapped inside in Karnataka this morning. Crazy visuals. Here's the attempt to catch the leopard but it manages to escape. @prajwalmanipal pic.twitter.com/AFeEsilnCL — Nikhita Venugopal (@nkvenugopal) February 3, 2021 Luckily, no life was lost and the dog was rescued unharmed. Visuals of the rescue show the trembling dog sitting with its tail between its legs, and officials then brought it out of the toilet. But the dog was safe in the end! Hooray! pic.twitter.com/HDIj1zFLEu — Nikhita Venugopal (@nkvenugopal) February 3, 2021 According to Austin P Soans, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Sullia sub-division in Subramanya, there was a delay of 30 minutes in getting the transquilizer injections from Mangaluru. The primary challenged faced by officials was the positioning, congested area and damage to the toilet, which made it difficult to trap the leopard. They had hope to catch the leopard and release it into the forest. 

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Yediyurappa’s dinner diplomacy misses target, over 30 MLAs refuse to attend

Politics

Coincidentally, the meeting was held on the same day that Yatnal openly protested in the well of the Assembly against the CM of his own party.

Pooja Prasanna

Karnataka’s Chief Minister who has a constant internal turmoil on his hand, tried yet again to reach out to BJP legislators to address their grouses. On Tuesday evening, a dinner meeting was hosted by BS Yediyurappa aimed at gratifying the MLAs, over thirty in number, who have had several complaints against the CM. But the dinner meeting, hosted at the CM’s official residence on Race Course Road Krishna, was skipped by several of the miffed MLAs. The list also included former Law Minister KC Madhuswamy, MP Renukacharya, SA Ramadas, Sunil Kumar, Arvind Bellad and others. Yediyurappa’s harshest critic, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal was also absent at the meeting. Coincidentally, the meeting was held on the same day that Yatnal openly protested in the well of the Assembly against the CM of his own party. Insiders tell TNM that those who were in attendance asked for specific projects to be granted to their constituencies, more funds to be released and most of all, increased access to the CMO. While Yediyurappa heard the demands patiently, he has not committed to all of them but promised to look into it, the source said. Some leaders also brought up the issue of increased interference of Yediyurappa’s family members in administration and sought to have their interaction with the CM and not have to route it through others. This is a complaint that, according to BJP sources, has featured several times and was also shared with BJP’s Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh. Of BJP’s 118 legislators, just over 80 were in attendance, a sign that the intention of the meeting was not fully served, said a source. While a few of the legislators skipped the meet due to prior commitments or because they were travelling, others chose to send a clear message through their absence. Several of the MLAs, like Madhuswamy have been alleging that they were insulted by the Cabinet expansion, either at not being given a berth or because they were not allowed a portfolio of their choice. Several others continue to accuse Yediyurappa of allowing too much freedom and giving undue attention to the legislators who joined BJP either from Congress or the JD(S) in 2019. Meanwhile, Yatnal’s tirade against the CM has continued with his claiming that after Ugadi, the state will have a new CM. While the CM has continued a stoic silence on the matter, a source in CMO confirmed to TNM that Yediyurappa is worried about a series of meetings being held by a group of 10-15 MLAs, most of whom skipped the dinner meeting as well. Karnataka’s Chief Minister who has a constant internal turmoil on his hand, tried yet again to reach out to BJP legislators to address their grouses. On Tuesday evening, a dinner meeting was hosted by BS Yediyurappa aimed at gratifying the MLAs, over thirty in number, who have had several complaints against the CM. But the dinner meeting, hosted at the CM’s official residence on Race Course Road Krishna, was skipped by several of the miffed MLAs. The list also included former Law Minister KC Madhuswamy, MP Renukacharya, SA Ramadas, Sunil Kumar, Arvind Bellad and others. Yediyurappa’s harshest critic, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal was also absent at the meeting. Coincidentally, the meeting was held on the same day that Yatnal openly protested in the well of the Assembly against the CM of his own party. Insiders tell TNM that those who were in attendance asked for specific projects to be granted to their constituencies, more funds to be released and most of all, increased access to the CMO. While Yediyurappa heard the demands patiently, he has not committed to all of them but promised to look into it, the source said. Some leaders also brought up the issue of increased interference of Yediyurappa’s family members in administration and sought to have their interaction with the CM and not have to route it through others. This is a complaint that, according to BJP sources, has featured several times and was also shared with BJP’s Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh. Of BJP’s 118 legislators, just over 80 were in attendance, a sign that the intention of the meeting was not fully served, said a source. While a few of the legislators skipped the meet due to prior commitments or because they were travelling, others chose to send a clear message through their absence. Several of the MLAs, like Madhuswamy have been alleging that they were insulted by the Cabinet expansion, either at not being given a berth or because they were not allowed a portfolio of their choice. Several others continue to accuse Yediyurappa of allowing too much freedom and giving undue attention to the legislators who joined BJP either from Congress or the JD(S) in 2019. Meanwhile, Yatnal’s tirade against the CM has continued with his claiming that after Ugadi, the state will have a new CM. While the CM has continued a stoic silence on the matter, a source in CMO confirmed to TNM that Yediyurappa is worried about a series of meetings being held by a group of 10-15 MLAs, most of whom skipped the dinner meeting as well. Our Members are our biggest supporters and our best critics. Listen to @harikrishnan_91 on why you should become a @thenewsminute Member right away!https://ift.tt/39EMyN8 #SupportUs pic.twitter.com/uHkTJjupsZ — The News Minute (@thenewsminute) February 3, 2021

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Man gets 10-year jail for brutal attack on woman during ATM robbery in Bengaluru

Court

The accused’s counsel pleaded to the court to commute the sentence as his mother is bedridden.

TNM Staff

Eight years after the shocking attack on Bengaluru-resident Jyoti Uday inside an ATM booth, the accused Kondappagiri Madhukar Reddy has been sentenced to years imprisonment. The 64th City Civil and Sessions Court which heard the case also levied a penalty of Rs 10,000 on Reddy.  The court convicted Madhukar Reddy on the counts of robbery, causing grievous hurt, and for destroying evidence. It also directed the district legal services authority to compensate the victim. The counsel of the accused pleaded to the court to reduce his sentence as one of his parents was bedridden and his wife and two children would be left to fend for themselves, as he was the sole breadwinner of the family. However, considering how brutal the attack was as well as Madhukar’s criminal history, the court decided to award the punishment for the crime. The attack took place on November 19, 2013 when Jyoti had entered the ATM kiosk at NR Square. At 7:10 am, Jyoti had entered the ATM to withdraw cash for her daughter’s birthday party. Madhukar Reddy followed her into the ATM, downed its shutters and demanded the cash. When she refused to give he struck her head with a machete many times and left her to bleed, running away with the purse which had some money, a debit card and her ID proof. Reports from 2013 recall a crawling Jyoti screaming out from a pool of blood. She was helped by passers-by who heard her shouts. CCTV visuals from the attack are so brutal and still remembered by those who investigated the case. One of the officers told TOI that the image of Jyoti pleading to the man to be left alone is hard to erase from his memory. After the attack, Madhukar Reddy remained untraceable for three years, until February 2017. Fifteen teams of police officers were on the hunt for the accused and finally he was nabbed from Madanapalli in Andhra Pradesh. Then assistant commissioner of police C Thimmiah investigated the case and filed a chargesheet. The trial began on June 29, 2017 and charges were framed against Reddy on January 14, 2019. The chargesheet mentioned 45 witnesses and out of which 21 were examined. The evidence recording was finally completed in August 2020. According to reports, the victim in her deposition narrated the entire account with clarity, making her statement crucial in the accused’s conviction. The accused had also used a dummy gun to threaten Jyoti which he disposed of in Kerala to destroy evidence. If the accused fails to pay the fine, he will have to undergo 1 year of simple imprisonment. He also received two years simple imprisonment for destroying evidence. Criminal history Hailing from Maddula Puram village in Andhra Pradesh, Reddy had allegedly escaped from the Kadapa prison in 2011 where he was serving a life term for murdering his cousin by hurling crude bombs. After escaping, he spent a while waiting tables at Hyderabad’s Minerva hotel. However, after his parents expressed disappointment in him, Reddy decided to start a life of crime and amass money. He went to a gift shop to purchase a toy gun and bought a machete to another shop. In 2013, he moved to Bengaluru where he decided to steal valuables from individuals. Landing up in the Bathalapalli village, he entered the house of a woman as he had no money for food or travel. “I locked the door and when she came back with the glass of water, I pointed the machete at her and asked her to give me all her valuables. When she refused, I hacked her in the face and neck with the machete. I took her earrings, ATM card and passbook. I went to an ATM and withdrew Rs 3,000 from that card,” Madhukar Reddy’s confession reads. Days after this attack, he boarded a train to Bengaluru. With only Rs 200 left, he walked the streets of the city with no money for food or accommodation. He even begged to make some money. This is when he decided to steal cash from people who visited ATMs. On November 19, 2013, he was waiting near the Corporation Bank ATM in NR Square when he saw Jyoti Uday enter the kiosk. “She told me that even if I harmed her, she would not give me her money. I squeezed her neck and demanded money. She told me that she would rather die than give into my threats. That’s when I hacked her head and neck with the machete. I wiped my bloody hands with her scarf, took her mobile phone, Rs 200 and her ATM card and fled,” Madhukar Reddy’s confession reads. He threw away her sim card and discarded her ATM card at the bus stand, from where he went to the railway station. He then boarded a train to Andhra Pradesh from the Majestic station. In the Majestic station, he sold Jyoti’s phone for Rs 500 and took up a room at a lodge. He also shaved his head to conceal himself from the police teams on the lookout for him.

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Black panther dies after being hit by train near Karnataka’s Kundapura

Wildlife

Forest officials said that the black panther appeared to have had little time or space to react to the approaching train.

Prajwal Bhat

A black panther was killed after it was hit by a train on a railway bridge near Kundapura in Udupi district of Karnataka. The panther had reportedly strolled towards a railway bridge in Badakere village in Byndoor taluk of the district on Tuesday when it was hit by a train and died.  The panther, estimated to be four-five years old, died after it was hit by the Mangala Express at 2 am on Tuesday. The forest officials said that the animal appeared to have had little time or space to react to the approaching train.  "The panther was on the side of the track but close to the middle of the bridge. Panthers usually have good reflexes but there might have been little space to move around and it was hit on the head after it moved,” Prabhakar Kulal, Range Forest Officer (RFO),  Kundapura, told TNM. The railway bridge runs over the Souparnika river and the rail line passing through it connects Mangaluru with Mumbai.  The panther's body was found lying on the bridge by passers-by who informed forest officials. Forest officials informed the Railways about the incident and the post-mortem of the panther was conducted before the carcass of the animal was disposed of by burning. Black panthers are the melanistic colour variant of big cat species. They are not commonly sighted in Kundapura. "There are around 10 leopards in this range in total. Incidents like these are very rare. In the last three years, we have sighted a few panthers like this. We have rescued two panthers from wells but this is the first time a panther has died after it was hit by a train," RFO Prabhakar added. Environmental activists raised alarm about the railway projects proposed near Kundapura in Karnataka and Goa. The Indian Railways has proposed the doubling of the railway tracks in the region including in the Western Ghats. Read: Leopard that's been entering Bengaluru apartment finally caught

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