Bengaluru: The Karnataka Government on Thursday launched a comprehensive cyber security policy 2024 to combat rising levels of cybercrimes and promote awareness, skill building, public-private partnerships and technology integration to protect the State’s digital infrastructure.

The policy focuses on several key areas such as awareness and education, skill building, promotion of industry and startups, partnerships and collaborations for capacity building, officials said.

The total financial outflow for implementation of the policy for five years is about Rs 103.87 crore, which would be met from the budgetary allocation of the Department of Information Technology and Biotechnology and Science & Technology. Out of this, Rs 23.74 crore would go towards providing incentives and concessions, they said.

According to an official statement, key highlights of the incentives under the policy are:

Under the internship programme, a stipend of Rs 10,000- Rs15,000 per month will be provided, for a maximum of three months, to Karnataka-based undergraduate and postgraduate interns. The target is to facilitate 600 undergraduate interns and 120 post-graduate interns during the policy period.

For R&D projects in the domain of cybersecurity, driven by Karnataka-based start-ups and in collaboration with Karnataka-based academic institutes, matching grants of up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the total project R&D cost, or up to Rs 50 lakh will be given.

The cost up to a maximum of Rs one lakh towards engagement of Karnataka-based, CERT-In empanelled service providers by start-ups registered with Karnataka Start-up Cell for cyber security audit will be reimbursed.

“The Government of Karnataka, recognising the rising importance of cyber security, has meticulously crafted this policy to establish a resilient and secure cyberspace for our citizens and enterprises,” Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and Information Technology and Biotechnology, Priyank Kharge, said at the lunch event.

He emphasised that the policy, aligned with national and international efforts, highlights Karnataka’s proactive stance in addressing cyber threats.

According to him, the policy has two parts. The first part focuses on building a strong cyber security ecosystem across all segments of the society, including public, academia, industry, start-ups and the government. The second part of the policy focuses on strengthening the cyber security posture of the State’s IT assets.

Whilst the first part will be in public domain, the second will be internal to the state’s IT teams and departments for their IT implementations.

This policy has been collaboratively drafted by the Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T, the department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (e-Governance), and the Home Department, in consultation with relevant stakeholders from both the government and private sectors.

The policy was also reviewed by the Indian Institute of Science, which is the anchor institute for the state’s K-tech Centre of Excellence for Cyber Security (CySecK).

He also launched a skilling programme by CISCO as the Karnataka Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the network giant to train 40,000 individuals in cybersecurity skills and awareness.

“This partnership with CISCO is a testament to our commitment to fostering a secure digital environment. By training 40,000 individuals, with a special emphasis on empowering women, we are not only addressing the skills gap but also promoting inclusivity in the tech sector,” Kharge said.

“Since, we are the fourth largest tech cluster in the world and the biggest tech cluster in the country, we have the highest number of cyber frauds also. That is the collateral damage of progress, So the highest number of online financial frauds in the country happen in Karnataka. Close to around 372 crore a year that is only reported (such frauds)…the first highest is of course Bengaluru and the second highest is Mandya,” he said.

“The Government of Karnataka is extremely serious about it (addressing these issues) and I think probably we are also the first state to come up with a fact-check unit for misinformation, disinformation, fake news, deepfakes… so we tried this on for 90 days during the election period

And you will be quite surprised that a few of our partners who were enrolled detected close to around seven-and-a-half lakh threats. Out of which, serious threats were close to around 500….,” he added.

According to him, the policy aims to build a dynamic, secure, and resilient cyberspace for all G2G, G2B, and G2C services of the Government of Karnataka.

“Beyond establishing a secure cyber ecosystem, the policy aims to create an assurance framework, strengthen the regulatory framework, quickly respond to security threats, protect critical information, reduce supply chain risks, and develop human resources,” Kharge added.

The Minister said that the state government has also tied up with Meta to create awareness about cyber security.

“We have also tied up with Meta. We will be going to schools and colleges. We will be training one lakh teachers on how to be safe online and we will be teaching 10 lakh children on how to be safe online. We are also talking to WhatsApp and other social media organisations as well on how we can use their data, their analytics for a safer environment for our youngsters,” Kharge said.

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday reserved its order on a plea filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) seeking cancellation of bail granted to Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Revanna, who is accused of abducting a woman.

According to police, the woman was allegedly kidnapped to prevent her from testifying against the MLA’s son and former MP Prajwal Revanna, who has been charged with raping her.

Justice M Nagaprasanna, who heard the SIT’s plea, noted the severity of the allegations against Prajwal Revanna, stating that the facts of the case were particularly “gory” and that bail should not have been granted by the Special MP/MLA court.

Senior Advocate Ravivarma Kumar, representing the SIT, presented the case details, arguing that the nature of the charges warranted the cancellation of bail. He maintained that the trial court’s decision to grant bail was incorrect and needed to be revoked.

Senior Advocate C V Nagesh, representing H D Revanna, contended that the prosecution was not only seeking the cancellation of bail but also challenging the order that granted bail. He argued that the kidnapping charge was unsustainable as the victim was not a minor, and the abduction charge “lacked the necessary elements of deceit.”

“She was a maidservant in the house. She was called. There was no deceit, no threat…no detention,” he said.

Nagesh also claimed that there was no indication that the domestic help, who was the victim, was abducted at the behest of H D Revanna or his wife Bhavani Revanna.

After hearing both sides, the court reserved its order.

A Bengaluru court on Thursday extended the judicial custody of arrested Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, his friend Pavithra Gowda and 15 associates in the Renukaswamy murder case till August 14.  

The 24th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court, presided over by Judge Vishwanath C Gowder, issued the order after all the accused persons appeared for the hearing via video conference from Parappana Agrahara and Tumkur jails. 

According to the police, 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Gowda, which enraged Darshan and prompted him to plan and execute his murder.  

Renukaswamy’s body was found near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli here on June 9. One of the accused, Raghavendra, who is part of Darshan’s fan club in Chitradurga, brought the fellow admirer of Darshan to a shed in R R Nagar in Bengaluru on the pretext that the actor wanted to meet him. It was in this shed that Renukaswamy was allegedly tortured and murdered. 

According to the post-mortem report, Renukaswamy, a native of Chitradurga, died due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt injuries. Police sources said Pavithra Gowda, who is accused number one, was the major cause for Renukaswamy’s murder. They said that it has been proved from the probe that she instigated the other accused, conspired with them, and also took part in the crime. 

Mysuru: Former BJP MP from Mysuru-Kodagu, Pratap Simha, is facing severe criticism on social media for his controversial post on his personal ‘X’ account (formerly Twitter) in support of self-declared cow vigilante Puneeth Kerehalli. Kerehalli was recently arrested for spreading false news that dog meat was being transported to Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station in Bengaluru.

In his post on Tuesday, July 30, Simha claimed that Kerehalli was forced by the police to strip and was insulted while in custody. He announced his intention to visit the prison on Wednesday and ordered ACP Chandan to be present during his visit.

Social media users quickly responded, questioning the propriety of Simha’s threat to a police officer. Many users asserted that the people of Karnataka would not be intimidated by such threats and emphasized the duty of Kannadigas to protect diligent officers.

The controversy stems from an incident on Friday at Bengaluru’s prime railway station, also known as ‘Majestic’, where Kerehalli and his supporters caused a commotion. They claimed that 150 cartons carrying three tonnes of meat from Jaipur contained dog meat. However, on Saturday, the Karnataka Food Safety and Standards department refuted Kerehalli’s allegations, confirming that the meat samples had been tested and found to be that of sheep.

The incident has sparked significant debate about the actions of cow vigilantes and the role of public figures in supporting or condemning such actions.

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has instructed all District Collectors in Karnataka to take necessary precautions to handle potential floods and landslides caused by the ongoing heavy rains.

During a recent directive, CM Siddaramaiah emphasized the importance of closely monitoring the water levels in reservoirs and implementing measures for effective flood control.

Reports of landslides in coastal and hilly areas have prompted the Chief Minister to urge District Collectors to remain vigilant. Additionally, district in-charge ministers have been asked to oversee flood management efforts.

Authorities have been advised to manage the flood situation in a balanced manner, ensuring timely rescue and relief operations. This includes opening care centers and providing necessary facilities to flood victims as needed.

To enhance the coordination of relief efforts, CM Siddaramaiah has suggested setting up control rooms in all districts, operating 24 hours a day. Officials at these central locations are expected to stay alert and be readily available to respond to emergencies.

Kasaragod District Collector K. Inbashekar

Kasaragod: Kasaragod District Collector K. Inbashekar has declared a holiday for all schools in the district on July 31 as a precautionary measure owing to continuous heavy rainfall.

According to the order, the leave does not apply to pre-scheduled examinations. Schools also remained closed on July 29, Tuesday.

The district has been experiencing a flood like situation over the past 24 hours due to torrential rains. A meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) was convened on Tuesday under the leadership of the District Collector, discussions were held on preparing for necessary emergency operations and ensuring the safety of residents.

Meanwhile the district administration has advised residents living in low-lying areas and near riverbanks to relocate to safer places if necessary. Additionally, the district administration has emphasized the need for caution in areas prone to landslides.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday wrote to his counterpart in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, requesting that his government continue the rescue operations to find Arjun, the lorry driver from Kozhikode who went missing in a landslide at Shirur there recently.

In the letter, Vijayan said his government appreciates the efforts taken by the teams engaged in the search-and-rescue operations to find the missing person. There have been reports that search operations have been stopped, he said, adding, “I earnestly urge you to give directions to continue the rescue operations till they yield positive results.”

Vijayan also requested that the operations be continued with augmented strength and using all needed equipment.

Later, the Kerala CM posted on social media platform X that he wrote to Siddaramaiah to express appreciation for the search-and-rescue teams’ dedication to locating Arjun. Wrote to Karnataka CM siddaramaiah to express appreciation for the search & rescue teams’ dedication in locating Arjun, who went missing in a tragic landslide in Shirur, Karnataka. As there are reports of operations stopping, we requested him to give directions to continue the rescue operations till they yield positive results,” Vijayan said in his X post.

Arjun was driving a lorry loaded with timber to Kozhikode when the landslide occurred on July 16. He has been missing for the past 12 days now.

Multiple agencies have been conducting a search mission to find him at the landslide site.

Union Minister and JD (S) leader HD Kumaraswamy seen covering his nose during a press conference, in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy was hospitalised here after his nose started bleeding during a press conference on Sunday.

Kumaraswamy, who is the JD(S) second-in-command, was addressing reporters after a meeting with the BJP leaders when he noticed blood coming out of his nose.

The Union Minister, holding steel and heavy industries portfolio, tried to wipe off the blood, but soon it began trickling down his chin and then fell on his white shirt for everyone to see.

The unexpected turn of events baffled everyone present there.

Quickly, his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy rushed him to a private hospital.

Later speaking to media, Nikhil said there was nothing to worry as the doctors were attending to him.

According to him, due to the hectic schedule, his father did not take rest, which could be the reason behind the incident.

Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil

Bengaluru: Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil on Thursday slammed the opposition BJP over its all-night agitation in the Karnataka legislature after the party’s demand to discuss the MUDA ‘scam’ was denied.

Patil said the BJP has used the ongoing legislative session for their political advantage despite explaining to them why the adjournment motion into the alternative site (plot) scam in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) cannot be taken up.

He said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered an investigation into the irregularities in the MUDA by a retired judge of the High Court.

“The CM has formed a commission to investigate the allegations against him. Is there any example of a chief minister forming a commission of inquiry when there was an allegation against him?” Patil asked.

He sought to know from the opposition BJP and its ally JD(S) if there is any instance of former Chief Ministers H D Kumaraswamy, B S Yeddyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai setting up a commission.

“ The opposition party should have appreciated the CM’s stand. This (overnight agitation) is just a political drama,” the Minister said in a statement.

He reminded that the opposition is not ready to discuss the landslide at Shirur in the Uttara Kannada district.

Patil alleged that the BJP is also not keen on discussing the bills on One Nation One Election, Re-establishing Common Entrance Test (CET) against National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET) and several others for the benefit of people.

It is alleged that alternative sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvathi in an upmarket area in Mysuru, which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land which had been “acquired” by the MUDA.

Several supporters of Siddaramaiah too have allegedly “benefitted this way,” BJP leaders alleged.

The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where MUDA developed a residential layout.

The controversial scheme envisages allotting 50 per cent of developed land to the land loser in lieu of undeveloped land acquired for forming layouts.

Paris: Dhinidhi Desinghu, a 14-year-old budding Indian swimmer, is set to represent India at the upcoming Olympics in Paris, competing in the women’s 200m freestyle. As the youngest member of the Indian contingent, Dhinidhi’s journey is an inspiring story of overcoming her initial fear of water to participating in various international swimming competitions.

“But I didn’t like the water, I didn’t want to get in. I couldn’t get my feet into the pool, I couldn’t get my head inside. It was a struggle,” Dhinidhi told The Indian Express. Her journey began when her parents learned how to swim before her to help her feel at ease.

Although she got comfortable in the water, Dhinidhi initially had difficulties in handling the pressure, her mother Jesitha shared with the Indian Express. However, things changed for the better at a state-level open meeting in Mangaluru. Dhinidhi expressed fear and reluctance to swim. Jesitha motivated her to at least see the pool, after which Dhinidhi agreed to compete. She bagged gold and overcame issues with anxiety before competitions, Jesitha recalled.

Dhinidhi shed light upon her habit of writing a diary where she notes everything about her workout, the timing she strives to achieve, her optimal practice times, and national records, among others. Dhinidhi adds: “I write all of it down so that in case I want to know what I have to aim for, I know how far I am. For me, setting goals is a little better because if I have something to work towards, it makes me realise why I am doing all this.”

Along with maintaining a diary, she also has a blog where she shares her journey and experiences, hoping it might help someone else to overcome issues that she faced as a child.

Dhinidhi trains at Dolphin Aquatics in Bengaluru, headed by Dronacharya awardee Nihar Ameen, and is coached by Madhu Kumar. The youngster qualified for the women’s 200m freestyle on a universality quota and will compete alongside Indian swimming veteran Srihari Natara. She holds the record of being the youngest female swimmer to win seven gold medals at the National Games. Additionally, she holds a national record in the women’s 200m freestyle and has participated in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.