Bengaluru: In what has become the third confirmed case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Karnataka, a 34-year-old man has tested positive for the virus after returning from South Africa.

Karnataka Health Minister Dr. Sudhakar on Sunday confirmed the news with a tweet and added that the patient was being treated in the government hospital and was isolated.

The minister also added that five primary and 15 secondary contacts of the patient have been identified and their samples were sent for testing of the same.

Pramesh S Jain

The CK Achakattu police on Thursday cracked a racket and arrested two persons who were trying to sell a crocodile hatchling to their customer the police recovered a plastic can containing the crocodile hatchling as baby crocodile.

The accused has been identified as,Abdul Khalid,32,Jayanagar,and his associate Gangadhar BS,32 of Kanakapura.

Senior officer told reporters,our CK Achakattu police Inspector, received a tip off that two persons are trying to sell a baby crocodile in a plastic can near Ishwari Theatre.

Based on a tip off,a team led by Inspector,PR Janardhan,rushed to the spot near Ishwari theater and kept a close watch on the duo and surrounded the area and after getting confirmation the team zeroed in and caught Abdul Khalid, 32 from Jaya Nagar and his associate Gangadhar BS, 32,from Kanakapura.  

After apprehending them the team took them to police station for further questioning and the team intercepted the plastic can which they were carrying containing the live hatchling.

During investigation the accused told the police that they had poached the reptile from the banks of river cauvery and brought it to the city after clinching a deal with the client who reportedly wanted to buy the reptile to keep it as a pet.

The duo have been booked under various sections of the wildlife act and efforts are on to track down the client and further investigation is on to ascertain their criminal background.

Finally Bengaluru Police Commissioner,Kamal Pant has appreciated Addl CP West,Soumendhu Mukherjee,DCP South,Harish Pandey,ACP,BL Srinivasmurthy,PI,Janardhan PR,PSI,Manoj Kumar DS,Madhu K,and crime staff as,Puttaswamy, Virupaksha,Raju,Nagaraj Nayak,Harish,Siddappa Bangiyar,Harish,and Mallikarjunaiah,has been appreciated for the commendable job done by them in nabbing the duo smugglers and recovered baby crocodile and a suitable reward will be given to the team for their exemplary work he added.

Pramesh S Jain

Derogatory tweets on Gen.Rawat’s death; legal action against the culprits: CM Bommai

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said the police chief has been asked to take legal action against those making derogatory and celebratory social media posts on the death of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat.

Some persons with perverted minds have tweeted derogative,celebratory messages about the death of Chief of Defence Staff Gen.Bipin Rawat.

Speaking to media persons after casting his vote in the Legislative Council election from local bodies constituency at a polling booth in Shiggavi,he said, every Indian should strongly condemn this act of perverted minds against the man who led the armed forces to defend the country.This perversion cannot be tolerated.They should be punished.

The culprits who posted such perverted, derogatory tweets would be traced and legal action would be taken.

Bommai conveyed his condolences to Gen.Rawat,whose funeral was performed on Friday.I visited Captain Varun Singh,the survivor in the helicopter crash,at the Command Hospital in Bengaluru.He is getting best medical treatment by specialist doctors.I pray for his speedy recovery,”Bommai said.

Replying to a question about Belagavi session of state legislature, he said, issues related to law and order,public grievances would come up for discussion.We are ready reply to any issues to be raised by the opposition.

Replying to another question on spread of Bird Flu in Kerala he said,precautionary measures have been taken in the state including supply of necessary vaccines and medicines.

As for Covid vaccination for children,we are waiting for the guidelines from the centre, he said.

Pramesh S Jain

The East Division police of Hennur police have arrested a gang of five who came to the city from Nepal to break into the houses and return home with the booty.

The accused have been identified as Raju, Jeevan,Gorakh Kalu,Hikmath Shahi and Karan Bista.

The police have recovered 19 lakh worth valuables,Rs.9.3 lakh cash from four house break thefts they were involved in .

Senior officer told reporters,Based on the complaint of house break theft in an apartment in Coconut Grove Layout,Horamavu reported on 17 october,the Hennur police inspector, Vasanth Kumar and his crime staff swung into action and took up the investigations.

The team visited the crime spot as the theft took place in the apartment in the house of Ramachandra Reddy atla when the family had gone to Andhra to attend the last rites of their relatives deputing Karan to take care of the house.

The team after inspecting the spot and area and based on technical inputs and other concrete evidence the team zeroed in on the security guard Karan as they got suspicious on his behaviour and statement during questioning.

The team kept a close watch on him and after getting confirmation the team picked him for questioning.

During Investigations the accused confessed the crime and it has revealed that the accused who work as security guards in the apartment would identify the locked house and share details with their partners in crime on FB messenger as to not get caught but his criminal mind plan with the meticulous investigation by the team landed him in their net.

A detailed investigation by the team it has revealed that Karan working as security guard in the apartment used to identify the locked house and later call his associates.

Based on the information,the gang would come to the city and break into the house,loot valuables and return home with the booty.

Based on their information the team recovered cash and valuables totalling worth of Rs.43 lakhs from them and solved 4 house break thefts committed by them.

The accused have been taken into custody further to ascertain their criminal background.

Finally Bengaluru Police Commissioner,Kamal Pant has appreciated Addl CP East,S Murugan, DCP East,Dr SD Sharanappa,ACP Banaswadi Sub-Division,Ningappa B Sakkiri,PI,M Vasanth Kumar,PSIs,as,Ningaraju,Basavaraj Jogale,ASIs,as,Pratap,Askar Mirza,and whole crime team who were part of this detection with their meticulous and exemplary investigation landed the whole gang in police net and a suitable reward will be given to the team he added.

Congress leaders are indulging in crude talk as they have fallen behind in development. They are trying to change the narrative of the election campaign to cover up their failures on the development front, Chief Minister,Basavaraj Bommai said addressing the BJP office bearers of Belagavi and Chikkodi as part of the campaign for Legislative Council election.

Desperation of Congress leaders is being reflected in the crude language they are using in their campaign. They should speak in a language befitting their position and status.

But it is natural for a person to speak like that when he is desperate and disappointed. Congress leaders are trying to change the narrative to cover up their failure in development when they were in power,”Bommai said.

He called upon the BJP leaders and workers not to emulate Congress.We do not need such language.

We do not need any certificate from Congress leaders. It is the people of Belagavi who would give us the certificate.

BJP is well organised. We will redress the problems of the people of Belagavi,” Bommai said.

Bommai exhorted the party members of local bodies to ensure the victory of BJP candidate Mahantesh Kavatagimath with a massive majority.

The outcome of this election would have a big impact on the Zilla and Taluk panchayat elections in the coming days, Bommai said.

Government has already initiated action to establish a Genome Sequencing Lab in the state. Health Secretary has been instructed to look into the needs of procuring necessary equipments and experts for the purpose,Chief Minister, Basavaraj Bommai said speaking to media persons at his residence in Hubball on Tuesday.

All the districts have Covid testing labs.Genome Sequencing needs expert systems and modern equipments.

Spread of new variant,Omicron,has necessitated sending test samples in suspect cases for Omicron,to Genome Sequence testing in NCBS. Arrangements would be made to get the test reports quickly,” Bommai said.

Replying to a question about former Chief Minister,Siddaramaiah’s allegations that,number of mandays under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has been reduced,Bommai said that,Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister,KS Eshwarappa has already replied to the charge.

Reacting to Siddaramaiah’s statement that, Bommai is a liar, he said,I had immense respect for Siddaramaiah.I am disappointed at his recent statements he added.

The Yelahanka new town police arrested two persons including staff of a food delivery company and engineer with a private firm for assaulting a police team over road rage on Monday night.

The arrested accused has been identified as,Manoj Kumar and Dheeraj Kumar.

Senior officer told reporters,The accused driving a car confronted a police vehicle on a narrow road.

The PSI who was on duty asked them to take back their car to allow them pass by but they refused to do so.

Heated argument ensued following which the accused assaulted the police team.

The accused were later arrested and charged for assaulting the police personnel while on duty. 

The accused attacked police despite warning from the police and were aware that the police were in uniform,which showed their audacity and arrogance.

Meanwhile Home Minister,Agara Jnanendra reacting to the incident said that the attack on police will not be tolerated at any cost .

The accused have been subjected to medical examination to ascertain whether they are under the influence of alcohol.The duo was remanded to judicial custody while further investigations are  on.

Pramesh S Jain

Reckless driving by a driver of high end car led to series of accident and claimed a life of a restaurant employee while three vehicles damaged.

The deceased has been identified as Hari Mahanth,(36) hails from Assam was working as Wallet Parking driver of a restaurant.He was residing in Doopasandra and was employee in the restaurant since ten years.

Senior officers,as,Joint CP Traffic, Dr BR Ravikanthe Gowda, DCP Traffic East, Shantharaju M,ACP,Kavitha,PI,Seema of Halasuru traffic police station limits rushed to spot and closed the road as it was a major accident and vehicles was diverted and huge traffic pile up was resulted due to the impact of accident.

After taking stock of the situation,senior officer said,the incident occurred on Indiranagar 80 feet road on Tuesday afternoon and the condition of the accused driver is also said to be serious.

The Halasuru traffic police found that the accused driver is Suvidh,(40), a businessman and a resident of Defence Colony.

The incident took place around 3.15pm and Suvidh was overspeeding high end car and crashed into another car and then rammed to an auto rickshaw and a goods vehicle.

Mahanth who was taking out the car from the parking died on the spot while drivers of other vehicles had injuries.

The passersby who noticed the mishap shocked and alerted Halasuru Traffic police and the damaged vehicles were removed from the road to clear the traffic.

A case of rash and negligent driving is registered against the accused and we have subjected him to alcohol test and further investigation is on as the driver is also undergoing treatment he added.

Pramesh Jain

Empowerment of Gram Panchayats is our government’s aim.Our programmes have been formulated accordingly,” Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said.

Addressing a convention organised by BJP in Bidar he said, “government services should be taken to the doors of the citizens.

People need not be made to travel to Taluk and Zilla Panchayat offices for basic services. Focus of our government is development of the villages. Decentralisation of power to Gram Panchayat level is our objective.”

An action plan of Rs.3000cr had been prepared for development of Kalyana Karnataka region. The previous Congress regime had failed to fill vacant posts in Kalyana Karnataka region. “Our government has approved filling of 1400 posts in the region,” he said.

Pramesh S Jain

Having lost people’s support,Congress has a ploy to win the Legislative Council election by money power.But the grand old party’s true colours had been exposed,Chief Minister,Basavaraj Bommai said.

Addressing the ‘Vijaya Sankalpa’ convention organised by BJP at Attibele in Anekal Taluk Bommai said,Congress had stooped to the level of using any means to win the election.

Fielding those with moneybags as its candidates, making them pay big for the party kitty.Fall of morality in Congress party is very clear.

People should show Congress its place as the party is trying to win the election through immoral splurge of money.

Reacting to former Chief Minister,Siddaramaiah’s allegations that BJP always used money and muscle power to win elections,Bommai said,it is the Congress which is indulging in it.

What morality do you have to talk about it when you are banking on money for selecting the candidate to fighting the election? You(Siddu) did not bother to look at Gram Panchayats when in power. Your promise just ahead of 2017 election to distribute one lakh houses has remained a promise.

The BJP government in the state has initiated action to build one lakh homes in urban areas and 4 lakh homes in rural areas.They would be completed in one and half years,Bommai said.

Expressing the view that comprehensive development of Bengaluru is possible only if the adjoining Gram Panchayat areas are well developed,Bommai said that all round development of these villages is the objective of his government.

The revenue generated by industrialisation of Bengaluru would be utilised for the development of these Gram Panchayats,he added.

Anekal Vision

Many entrepreneurs are showing keen interest to invest in Anekal.Our government will prepare an exclusive ‘Anekal Vision’ document for the comprehensive development of Anekal on the lines of Bengaluru Vision,” Bommai stated.