Parmesh S Jain

About 1,44,000 houses have been provided electricity connection under the ‘Belaku’ programme, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said here after launching the ‘State Level Belaku Programm’ in the Dastikoppa vilage in Belagavi district,Sunil Karkala Energy and Kannada culture Minister was too present.

State government is providing power connection to houses of the poor and farmers’ pump sets. State government is providing 24X7 single phase power and 7 hours of three phase power in the state.

State government has decided to convert the Rs1900cr debt burden of Hubballi Electric Supply Company into government’ share capital. State government would utilise Rs1500cr central grant for rejuvenation of the company, he said.

He reiterated his government’s commitment for comprehensive development of northern Karnataka. State cabinet has decided to install statues of Kitturu Rani Chennamma and Sangolli Rayanna in Suvarna Soudha premises, Bommai said.

State cabinet has also approved Dharawad-Belagavi via Kitturu railway line project at a cost of Rs898cr. It would give a big boost for infrastructure development in the region, he said.

Parmesh S Jain

A 24-year-old man detained by the KR Puram police for questioning in connection with the death of his wife,allegedly escaped from police and jumped to death from the skywalk near ITC factory in Dooravani Nagar near KR Puram on Monday.

The deceased has been identified as Shaktivelu,who was arrested following the suicide of his wife due to alleged harassment .

Senior officer told media persons,On Monday morning at around 6 am, Shaktivelu,asked permission to use the washroom and the police let him out of the lock up.

Taking advantage of the situation he ran out of the station.The staff sounded alert and chased him.

While he was running on the skywalk he reportedly lost control and fell down before a moving SUV and was severely injured.

The police who were chasing him with the help of others shifted him to a near-by hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The KR Puram police have recovered the CCTV footage from a near by area to ascertain the reason for the death and further investigation is on.

Parmesh S Jain

The South Division police of Kumaraswamy Layout police arrested 27-year-old cab driver and his associate for setting fire to a condiments shop over a fight with the staff of bar and restaurant on December 15.

The accused have been identified as Mounesh Karihole,native of Devadurga in Raichur,a cab driver by profession and his associate Mounesh Sanagoudar, 26, a construction labourer.

Senior officer told media persons,acting on a complaint the KS layout police Inspector P Shivakumar and his team swung into action and based on information collected from staff who said there was a fight took place as two persons broken the sink at the restaurant which leads to fight.

Based on technical inputs and other reliable inputs the team zeroed in the two miscreants and subjected them to questioning during investigation the accused confessed the crime and it has revealed that the duo In an inebriated state broke the sink at the restaurant leading to fight with the staff of the bar and restaurant.

They were beaten up and thrown out by the staff.In order to avenge the humiliation the duo walked to the restaurant on the night of December 17 and set fire to the main door of a condiment shop which is adjacent to the restaurant by mistake while in an inebriated state.

Luckily the fire was noticed and put out by the staff sleeping inside the restaurant.

The duo have been booked under rioting and mischief by fire and remanded them to judicial custody.

Finally Bengaluru Police Commissioner,Kamal Pant has appreciated Addl CP West,Soumendhu Mukherjee,DCP South,Harish Pandey,ACP,TM Shivakumar,PI,P Shivakumar,and his whole team who nabbed the culprits in a swift action a special reward will be given to the whole team he added.

Belagavi: Keeping in view the COVID-19 situation and the rising number of cases of Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus, the Karnataka government on Tuesday said that no parties or mass gatherings would be permitted in the state from December 30 to January 2.

“We had a meeting with experts through video conference regarding the new year celebrations, keeping in mind the COVID-19 and Omicron related cases,” Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters.

On their recommendation, the government decided to prohibit mass gatherings in the city and other public places in the state.

“We are banning mass gatherings at open places. This is across the state from December 30 to January 2,” Bommai said.

He said no parties or events like having Disc Jockeys at clubs and restaurants would be allowed.

“The clubs and restaurants will be allowed to have only 50 per cent of the capacity, but there is a ban on organising parties and Disc Jockeys,” Bommai said.

Similarly in apartments too, there will be no parties or DJs and residents’ associations will have to ensure that the rules are not violated.

As many as 19 cases of Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus have been reported so far in the state.

BENGALURU: In a welcome, inclusive and progressive move, the Karnataka State Police (KSP) has made the first move and called for applications for the post of special reserve sub-inspector in KSRP and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) from men, women and transgenders.

The notification issued on Monday is the first by a government department in Karnataka calling for applications from the transgender community. The last date for applying for the 70 vacancies is January 18.Karnataka is the first state to reserve jobs in public employment for transgender persons following a landmark direction of the Karnataka High Court in July this year.

In response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed last year by a city-based NGO and rights group — Sangama — and social activist Nisha Gulur, represented by senior advocate BT Venkatesh, after vacancies for 2,467 posts for special reserve constable force and bandsmen arose, the “High Court in July 2021 ordered one per cent horizontal reservation for transgender people in all categories,” said Venkatesh.

“This is the first step in India wherein a government announced equal status for transgenders in its recruitment. The court direction to provide reservation is laudable,” said Venkatesh. 

NGO lauds K’taka police decision

Sangama has welcomed the KSP for inviting applications from the transgender community. “As an organisation, mainstreaming marginalised communities who are discriminated against based on their sexual orientation and gender identity and facilitating rights-based work to empower the sexual and gender minorities for over two decades, we thank the state police for taking this bold step.

Other organisations should take a cue as directed by the court and provide livelihood opportunities to all as envisaged in the Constitution,” said Rajesh Umadevi, executive director, Sangama.

Parmesh S Jain

The Bengaluru civic agency has made COVID-19 tests mandatory in private hospitals for all those coming with Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) and Influenza Like Illness (ILI) in Bengaluru

All the SARI, ILI patients coming to OPD in private hospitals in BBMP limits should be tested for COVID-19 compulsorily and other patients also could be advised to undergo the same if needed,” the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike,Special Commissioner Dr Trilok Chandra as saying in a statement

All the SARI, ILI patients coming to OPD in private hospitals in BBMP limits should be tested for covid-19 compulsorily and other patients also could be advised to undergo for the same if needed.

Addressing a meeting with PHANA and more than 100 Private Hospitals, he said that, precautionary measured should be taken to prevent the spreading of covid-19 in the city.

Second dose should be given at private hospitals for the people if they have been taken first dose. Double dose should be ensured for all individual who will visit the hospital.And thus,unvaccinated must be get vaccinated.

Presently, covid cases in the city are stable. As a precautionary measure, according to the government order, private hospitals must be ready to reserve beds for covid patients. Along with that, separate pediatric beds also should be ensured, he said.

Information about real time bed availability should be uploaded in PHANA portal. All the necessary measures should be taken to ensure the proper availability of oxygen,he instructed.

Special hospital inspection teams by BBMP are visiting private hospitals to verify and ensure all necessary measures are implemented.

Chief Health Officer Dr. Balasundar, All the Zonal Commissioners, War room doctors and other concerned officials were present.

Parmesh S Jain

Amid tension over the defacing of the statue of 19th century warrior Sangolli Rayanna here, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said “decisive action” would be taken against miscreants who disturb law and order in the state.

State government would take decisive steps to stop vandalism.Stringent action would be initiated against those who take law into their hands, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said speaking to media persons in Belagavi.

“The main perpetrators of the recent vandalism in Karnataka have already been arrested. We will not allow any hooliganism to continue,” Bommai said.

State Home Secretary and DG of Police have taken up the issue with their Maharashtra counterparts to protect the life and property of Kannadigas in Maharashtra, and also providing security for Karnataka government vehicles, Bommai said.

Replying to a query on miscreants defacing Sangolli Rayanna’s statue in Belagavi bordering Maharashtra last week, Bommai said the police have arrested all the main accused related to the case.

There is no question of letting go even an inch of Karnataka’s border. It is a clear stand of the government that the Mahajan report is final on the border issue, still, some individuals and organisations are repeatedly causing disturbance to the peace and it is condemnable.

This House unanimously condemns such acts and decides to punish the miscreants involved in it,” Bommai said.

Following the defacement of freedom fighters’ statues in Karnataka, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said in the state Assembly that the accused in these incidents will be booked for sedition as they are “anti-nationals”.

“The previous governments were never doing this. We are controlling them all,” Bommai said.

The House sought action against those who indulged in such activities, including workers of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi (MES).

Bommai informed the legislators that the government is planning to book the accused in these incidents for sedition and also under the state’s Goonda Act. “

There are some leaders who are behind these actions and they want to disrupt peace and harmony. We will go after the people who are behind it and will take action.

They are (Sangolli Rayanna and Shivaji Maharaj) are freedom fighters who fought for the nation and whoever indulges in maligning their images are anti-nationals,” he added

Meanwhile, various Kannada organisations on Monday staged protests blocking the National Highway-4 at Hire Bagewadi in Belagavi where the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha is located.

The activists who came to Belagavi in huge numbers from various parts of Karnataka staged a road blockade.

They were seen intercepting ministers and legislators who were on the way to the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, where the Legislature session is on, demanding stringent action and ban on the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti, members of which were allegedly behind the incident.

Praveen Shetty of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, who spearheaded the agitation, demanded the externment of MES activists.

We demand ban on MES and externment of their leaders. They dare to destroy the statue of Sangolli Rayanna. We will observe bandh. We are all going to meet together under the leadership of Vatal Nagaraj,” Shetty told reporters.

Parmesh S Jain

Two persons were killed and two others injured when a speeding Sports Bike collided head on with another bike on Hosur service road in the wee hours of Monday.

The deceased have been identified as Jitin Josh, 25 and his friend Sonu, 30.

The accused has been identified as,Sharath Aditya,24.

Senior officer,as, DCP Traffic East Shantharaju M with ACP and Electronic City traffic inspector Venkatesh rushed to the spot and after inspecting the accident spot and collecting information from the jurisdiction police personnel and passerby.

Senior officer told reporters,the deceased were working in real estate and interiors and living at a rented house on Huskur road.

On Sunday night they were returning after dinner when the accused identified as Sharath Aditya, 24, riding his sports bike with his friend Santosh , 23, riding pillion, was riding rash and negligent manners.

He lost control over the bike and collided head on with the bike coming from the opposite direction.

The impact of the accident was so high that all four were thrown up in the air and crashed on the road,sustaining severe head injuries.

Passers-by rushed the four persons to near-by hospitals where Jitin Josh was declared dead on arrival while Sonu succumbed to his injuries later.

The other injured Aditya and Santosh were being treated at hospital and the Electronic city traffic police have taken up a case against Aditya, charging him under rash and negligent driving and death due to negligence and after his recovery we will take action against the accused as per law and further investigation is on he added.

Parmesh S Jain

RTI activist has been arrested by the Chennammana Kere Acchukattu police on charges of threatening an assistant engineer of the BBMP.

The accused has been identified as, Krishnamurthy Gowda,aRTI activist and Reporter of Surya Voice Newspaper a resident of Nagendra block.

Senior officer told media persons,Shwetha B,an assistant engineer of Kathriguppe BBMP ward office, had lodged a complaint on Saturday stating that Gowda was coming to her office and was enquiring about matters not related to him, thereby wasting the time of the goverment staff. Besides,he was also following her when she out on offical work.

“On Saturday around 4 pm,Gowda allegedly entered her cabin while she was in a discussion with a consultant and abused her for no reason, threatening he would ensure that she loses her job.

Based on her complaint, CK Achukattu police inspector, Janardhan PR and his team arrested Krishnamurthy Gowda a Reporter of Surya Voice Newspaper and a RTI activist and has been produced before the judge for further investigation he added.

Parmesh S Jain

Chilume Math Basavalinga Swamiji of Magadi Taluk in Ramanagara district has committed suicide by hanging in the math on Monday morning.

The deceased,Basavalinga Swamy, hailed from Doddaballpura taluk and was staying in the math since 1982.

Senior officers as,Ramanagar SP,Girish S,along with Kuddur police inspector and staff rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area and after inspecting the spot and collecting information from the staff.

Senior officer told media persons,A 62-year-old seer of Chilume Math at Solur village of Magadi taluk in Ramanagara district,reportedly ended life by hanging in the math on Monday morning.The reason for the incident is yet to be ascertained.

The incident came to light at around 7.30 am when the staff of the math came for work.He found the seer hanging from the window grill in the math premises,and alerted the police.

Priliminary investigation revealed that it could be a case of suicide.However,we have taken up a case of suspicious death based on the complaint filed by the staff.

Though the seer has not left any death note,he has written in his diary about his financial transactions.

As per the statement of the staff, the incident has taken place after the seer performed puja early around 5 am.

The staff has also mentioned that the seer had some health problems and appeared upset over the last two weeks.We are awaiting the post mortem report for further action.

A case of unnatural death is registered in Kuddur police station and further investigation is on he added.