Pramesh Jain

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has seized over 300 kg of ganja destined to Kerala from Andhra Pradesh via Tamil Nadu and arrested two persons,a senior official of the NCB here said on Monday.

The seizure of 327.87 kg of ganja (cannabis) was made in Uttukottai,Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu, on Saturday.

The cannabis was hidden in a special cavity created in a goods transport vehicle and its driver Dubash Shanker arrested,a press release from the office of Amit Ghawate,Zonal Director of the NCB,said.

The narcotic was sourced from Annavaram (Andhra Pradesh) and was destined to Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), it said. Follow-up action by NCB in Kochi,Kerala,led to the arrest of Sreenath M at Kaliakavila on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border.

He was receiver of the ganja consignment.He belongs to Thiruvananthapuram and was engaged in drug-peddling at Vizhinjam for the past four years, the release said.

Meanwhile, a Nigerian national was arrested in a separate incident at the Coimbatore Railway Station and was found having 2.235 kg of white crystals believed to be amphetamine.worth around Rs.90 lakh, while he was travelling in Kerala Express from Delhi to Kerala on Sunday.

On specific inputs a team of NCB Madurai unit intercepted Nigerian national,namely Egwin Kingsely, at Platform number 1, Coimbatore railway station and seized the consignment of white crystals of Amphetamine.

The seized Amphetamine has been procured from Delhi.The contraband was found to be concealed in 8 small packets,wrapped with carbon paper and further concealed in his luggage.

This Nigerian national is the kingpin of this syndicate and involved in drug trade for 3 years. NCB was tailing him for long time, the press release said.

The involvement of African nationals,especially Nigerians is an increasing trend in the trafficking of narcotic drugs and synthetic drugs.

Coimbatore,Salem,Erode,Tirupur have been hubs for African nationals.Tirupur being a textile hub is frequented by African nationals,who under the guise of textile business,have been involving in nefarious activities of drug trafficking,NCB said.

Amphetamine is made from Ephedrine/Pseudoephedrine, a controlled substance under NDPS Act.It can be manufactured in illegal laboratories which can be established in small premises. It affects the Central Nervous System and increasingly used as rave party drug, NCB said in its press release.

Finally,NCB acknowledges the dedicated efforts of Amit Ghawate,(Zonal Director,Bangalore),M Suresh Kumar- Superintendent and other officers associated to this case at NCB,Chennai Zonal Unit.

Bengaluru: With voices growing in his support, amid speculation that his replacement was on the cards, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa urged his supporters and well-wishers not to indulge in any kind of protests or indiscipline that is disrespectful and may embarrass the BJP.

The 78-year-old BJP veteran even said that the party is “like mother” for him.

“I am privileged to be a loyal worker of BJP.

It is my utmost honour to serve the party with highest standards of ethics & behaviour.I urge everyone to act in accordance with party ethics & not indulge in protests/indiscipline that is disrespectful & embarrassing for the party,” Yediyurappa tweeted.

Appealing to supporters not to give statements in his favour or indulge in protests, based on the current political developments, Yediyurappa in a tweet in Kannada said, “your goodwill should not exceed the boundaries of discipline.Party is like a mother to me and disrespecting it will cause pain to me. I believe that my true well wishers will understand and respond to my feelings.”

Support has continued to pour in for Yediyurappa from Mutts, pontiffs, political leaders across the party line, amid speculations that his exit was on the cards.

Leaders and pontiffs, especially from the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, also All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha have declared support to Yediyurappa and have urged for his continuation as the Chief Minister, while also warning “bad consequences” for the BJP if he is replaced.

Some BJP leaders like MP G M Siddeshwara and former legislator B Suresh Gowda, among others, speaking in Yediyurappa’s support, have also expressed confidence that he will continue as CM, as the high command has not asked him to step down.

Yediyurappa, who is completing two years in office on July 26, had visited Delhi last week, during which he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP President J P Nadda.

The trip raised questions in some quarters if the party is now working out a succession plan.

On his return from the national capital, Yediyurappa had, however, dismissed reports that he is on the way out, and asserted that the central leadership has asked him to continue in the post.

Bengaluru: Amid leadership change buzz, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s dinner for BJP legislators, which was scheduled to take place on July 25 to mark his government completing two years in office, has been postponed, official sources said on Wednesday.

“The scheduled dinner meeting has been postponed and the new date is yet to be fixed,” official sources said, without divulging reasons for the postponement.

The dinner was scheduled to take place at around 7 pm on Sunday at a city hotel.

Earlier there were reports that the BJP legislature party meeting will be convened on July 26, on the occasion of completion of two years in office, during which some clarity was expected on speculation about the leadership change.

However, officials have clarified that no legislature party meeting has been called.

Yediyurappa, who is completing two years in office on July 26, had visited Delhi last week, during which he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP president J P Nadda.

The trip raised questions in some quarters if the party is now working out a succession plan.

On his return from the national capital, Yediyurappa had however, rubbished reports that he is on the way out, and asserted that the central leadership has asked him to continue in the post.

Bengaluru: Support continues to pour in for Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa from Mutts, as several pontiffs made a beeline to his official residence for the second consecutive day on Wednesday and threw their weight behind him, amid speculations that his exit was on the cards.

A delegation of about 40 pontiffs met Yediyurappa under the leadership of Siddalinga Swamiji of Siddaganga Mutt, an influential Lingayat seminary in the State, and urged the BJP leadership to allow Yediyurappa complete his term.

A few of them have reportedly warned the saffron party of bad consequences if Yediyurappa is replaced.

“Why is it (leadership change talks) happening, when the Chief Minister is working efficiently at the time of crisis? The wish of all the Swamijis is that he should be the Chief Minister for a complete term. Earlier too, he was not Chief Minister for the complete term,” Siddalinga Swamiji said.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said all that the Chief Minister has said is that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President J P Nadda have shown special care towards him, and he was the only one who was given the exception to continue in the top post despite completing 75 years of age.

“Yediyurappa has said he will continue to serve the party until his last breath, but he did not say anything when asked about the resignation,” the Swamiji added.

On Tuesday, over two dozen pontiffs from different parts of the State, led by Balehosur mutt’s Dingaleshwar Swamy, met Yediyurappa, during which the latter had told them that he would have to abide by the decision taken by the BJP central leadership, giving some credence to speculation that a change of leadership was on the anvil.

As many as 300-400 pontiffs are expected to gather in Bengaluru in a couple of days to discuss the future course of action, sources said.

Stating that all the pontiffs are of the view that Yediyurappa, who belongs to the community, a core votebase of BJP, should continue in office and complete the term, Siddalinga Swamiji today said this is a time of crisis as rains have begun, COVID-19 third wave is likely, and if there is a change at this point in time, it would not be possible to provide a stable administration and serve the people.

“Keeping all this in mind, he (Yediyurappa) should continue and he should be there as the Chief Minister till the end of this term, this is the wish of all the seers,” he said on behalf of other pontiffs.

Siddalinga Swamiji is the successor of late Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Mutt, who was known as the ‘Walking God’.

Rejecting criticism that pontiffs are indulging in politics, Siddalinga Swamiji said the pontiffs have supported all Chief Ministers, whichever party they may be from.

“We are non-partisan, but the special thing about Yediyurappa is that we want him to complete the term,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mallikarjun Swamiji of Murugha mutt in Dharwad warned that BJP would face a major setback in Karnataka if Yediyurappa is replaced as he is the “foundation” for the party in the State, and that the veteran leader should be allowed to complete the term.

Stating that any government can give a good administration if there is a complete freedom, Panditaradhya Shivacharya Swami of Sanehalli Taralabalu Mutt said if Centre conspires to control the State governments any Chief Minister cannot give a complete administration as their hands would be tied, and “this is what has happened” to Yediyurappa.

Kolada Mutt Seer Dr Shantaveera Swamiji said Yediyurappa, who has brought BJP to power in South, should not be replaced, and in case it is done a Veerashaiva-Lingayat should be made the Chief Minister.

Yediyurappa is known for having provided generous grants to mutts and religious institutions during his previous term as Chief Minister, and thereby has earned their trust, according to some analysts.

Recently, amid speculations on his replacement, Yediyurappa’s younger son and State BJP Vice-President B Y Vijayendra held a series of meetings with prominent Veerashaiva-Lingayat seers, which had raised eyebrows in political circles.

Community factor also seems to have come to the fore with prominent Veerashaiva-Lingayat political leaders and seers from the community throwing their weight behind Yediyurappa.

On Monday, Congress leaders Shamanur Shivashankarappa and M B Patil, also Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, the head of the Chitradurga-based Sri Jagadguru Murugharajendra Mutt, Sri Veera Someshwara Shivacharya Swami of Rambhapuri Peetha of Balehonnur, and Srisaila Jagadguru Channa Siddharama Panditaradhya, had warned BJP of backlash if Yediyurappa is replaced.

Bengaluru: Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Monday said the party was ready to face elections in Karnataka at any point of time, but maintained that there is no possibility of early assembly polls.

Amid speculations in the ruling BJP about the possible replacement of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and a purported audio clip indicating that it may become a reality going viral, the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly said it is good that a “corrupt Chief Minister” is going.

“Congress is ready to face elections at any point of time,” he said in response to a question whether the party was ready in case the BJP is unable to handle its internal crisis.

Speaking to reporters here, he said “I don’t feel that an early election will take place because if Yediyurappa is removed, another person will be made the Chief Minister.

We are ready to face the election whenever it comes.”

The term of the current assembly ends in 2023.

The Congress Legislature Party leader’s comments come at a time when an audio clip has surfaced, fuelling a new round of speculation on whether replacing the 78 year-old Chief Minister is on the cards.

The purported audio clip is about Karnataka BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel hinting at a possible leadership change in the state, which he has dismissed as fake.

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday highlighted the issue of undertrials in several cases languishing in prisons waiting for the trial to begin as it appreciated the work done by tribal rights activist Stan Swamy, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case who died in judicial custody waiting for bail on medical grounds.

For how many years can people be asked to languish in jail without a trial? it said while hearing posthumously the appeals filed by the late Jesuit priest, whom the HC described as a wonderful person and expressed “great respect” for his work.

The observations were made by a bench of Justices S S Shinde and N J Jamadar that had also presided over Swamy’s medical bail plea on July 5, when the HC was informed about the 84-year-old priest’s death at the Holy Family Hospital here that day following a cardiac arrest.

“We don’t have time normally, but I saw the funeral service (of Swamy). It was very gracious,” Justice Shinde said. “Such a wonderful person. The kind of service he has rendered to the society. We have great respect for his work. Legally, whatever is there against him is a different matter,” he said.

The bench also referred to the criticism that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the judiciary had received following Swamy’s death.

It expressed regret over how, in several cases, undertrials languished in prisons waiting for the trial to begin.

The bench, however, also said it had ensured to remain fair while passing orders on Swamy’s medical bail plea, as well as on the pleas filed by his co-accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case.

“You came to us with his medical bail plea on May 28 and we acceded to every prayer, every time,” the court said to Swamy’s advocate, senior counsel Mihir Desai.

“Outside, we are speechless. Only you (Desai) can clarify this. You have said it on record that you have no grievance with this court in the matter,” the HC said.

The HC further said nobody mentions that this is the court which granted bail to (co-accused) Varavara Rao, despite vehement opposition.

“We allowed (Rao’s) family to meet as we thought human angle has to be seen. In another case (Hany Babu), we sent to hospital of his choice (Breach Candy Hospital-a private medical facility),” the HC said.

“We never anticipated this will happen (Swamy’s death in custody). What was on our minds, we can’t say now as we couldn’t pronounce our order,” the HC said referring to the pending medical bail plea of the late Jesuit priest.

Swamy was arrested by the NIA in connection with the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case from Ranchi in October 2020. The tribal rights activist, who was suffering from Parkinson’s disease and several other ailments, spent most of his time in custody in the Taloja prison’s hospital in neighbouring Navi Mumbai.

He was admitted to the state-run J J Hospital in Mumbai on two occasions and was shifted to the Holy Family Hospital, a private medical facility, on May 28, following the intervention of the bench led by Justice Shinde.

On July 5, the bench was informed by the hospital authorities that Swamy had suffered from a cardiac arrest two days prior and was put on ventilator support.

He never regained consciousness and was declared dead by the hospital authorities about an hour before Swamy’s medical bail plea was taken up for hearing by the HC, it was informed at that time.

On Monday, following the HC’s observations on it having passed fair orders, Desai said, “Let me say on record that I am extremely happy with various benches of the HC that heard this matter.” Desai, however, urged the HC to let Swamy’s aide and another priest, father Frazer Mascarenhas, to participate in the magisterial inquiry that was initiated under Section 176 of the CrPC following the undertrial’s death.

He also urged the high court to direct the magistrate conducting the inquiry to adhere to the UNHRC guidelines on such inquiries, and to ask for a report of the probe to be submitted in the HC.

Desai was Swamy’s counsel in the appeals challenging a special court order denying him bail on both medical grounds and merits.

Swamy had also filed a plea in the HC just weeks before his death, challenging section 45-D of the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), that barred grant of bail to any person accused under the Act.

Advocate Sandesh Patil, who appeared for the NIA, on Monday said the central agency was objecting to Desai’s request since the HC was hearing appeals challenging a bail order and issues related to the inquiry could not be raised on the same pleas.

“Time and again it is projected that the NIA is responsible for whatever has happened, and that jail authorities are responsible too,” Patil told the HC.

The bench, however, told him there could be “no control on who says what outside on the matter”.

“You take instructions on how many witnesses, how long will the trial take. We have to look at it practically,” the HC said to the NIA counsel.

“The concern is that for how many years can people be asked to languish in jail without a trial. Not only in this case, but the question will arise on other cases also,” it said.

The HC will continue hearing the pleas on July 23.

The Elgar Parishad case is related to inflammatory speeches made at a conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, which, the police claimed, triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial located on the outskirts of the western Maharashtra city.

The police had claimed the conclave was organised by people with alleged Maoist links.

The NIA later took over the probe into the case.

Pramesh Jain

A Rowdy-sheeter hacked to death in broad daylight inside a bank in Koramangala on Monday afternoon created fear among the residents and bank customers.

The deceased has been identified as Joseph alias Babli,30 year old a resident of Audugodi.

As soon as the murder took place the bank officials immediately called the Koramangala police and informed them about the murder.

Koramangala police inspector Ravi and other staff rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area.

Senior officials including,S Murugan,Additional commissioner of police (East),Dr.Srinath Mahadev Joshi,Deputy commissioner of police (South-East) visited the spot.

The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) officials and sniffer dog squad also visited the spot to collect evidence.

The Koramangala police have taken up the case of murder. They are analysing the CCTV footage installed in the bank and surrounding buildings.

Addl CP, East S Murugan,after inspecting the crime scene and after collecting the information from the bank officials said,wife of the deceased who was along with him in the Bank manager cabin the miscreants stabbed him Repeatedly nearly 20 times in front of her wife.

when the armed gang of seven or eight masked miscreants barged into the Union Bank in Koramangala 8th block and killed rowdy sheeter Babli around 1.30 pm.Babli was in his late 30s. 

Babli was a rowdy sheeter of Audugodi police station.He was an accused in murder,attempt to murder and other cases.

We suspect a rival gang located in Vivek Nagar is behind the murder. Special teams have been formed to nab the assailants at the earliest.

Preliminary investigation,found is Babli had gone to the bank along with his wife and children.The gang followed him and attacked him with machetes and swords.

The gang escaped when severely injured Babli collapsed on the floor.The gang had parked their vehicles in front of the bank.

We are collecting evidence and clues of assailants and will nab them at the earliest. Though Babli is a rowdy sheeter, there were no cases against him since 2011. Special teams has been formed and we have some clues about the assailants and they will be arrested soon he added.

Pramesh Jain

Madanayakanahalli police arrested six person including wife and her lover who has given Supari to kill his husband to a gang of four men on Friday night, who were later found to be in lying wait to carry out a contract killing. 

Alert night beat police of Madanayakanahalli Police station who were on night patrolling caught a gang of four who had taken supari of Rs 5 lakh to kill a private firm employee to make it look like robbery.

However a detailed questioning by the police led to reveal that they had taken supari from the wife of the private firm employee to get rid of her husband to live with her paramour.

The arrested have been identified as Muniraju, (24),Shashi Kumar,(30),Prabhu Shankar,(28) and Kiran,(38).All are residents of Thyamagondlu in Nelamangala and Roopa alias Chaitra,(28),and her boyfriend Kalpkumar Jain,(26),

Senior officer told reporters,our night beat police team of Madanayakanahalli Police noticed suspicious movements of the gang on Tumakuru road and they were wearing monkey caps on Thursday.

The police nabbed and took them into custody and seized Rs 30,000 cash and lethal weapons.

During the interrogation the gang confessed that Roopa alias Chaitra,(28), and her boyfriend Kalpkumar Jain,(26), had given them contract to kill Girish,husband of Roopa and employee in a private company.

Further inquiries revealed that Roopa is a office assistant of Kalpesh Kumar Jain office dealing with automobile in Nelamangala and had an affair.

Girish who suspected this started having fight with Roopa and even asked her to stop going to work.Roopa discussed with jain and the duo decided to eliminate Girish . 

Jain assigned his driver Prabhu,to hit job and gave him supari and gave him  Rs.3 lakh in advance and promised to pay the remaining  amount after the job.

Roopa even shared the information about Girish and his routine following which the gang was following him and decided to attack and kill him to make it look like robbery.

The police picked up Roopa for questioning and she confessed to the crime and the role of Jain.

The duo was booked for attempt to murder , conspiracy and various sections of the IPC.

Finally senior officers appreciated the alert night police beat police personnel with their timely intervention has saved a life of Private employee.and a special reward will be given to them.

ByRushda Fathima Khan

Nine hundred individuals and groups, including lawyers, journalists, academicians, activists and students, have endorsed an open letter demanding action against the online targeting of Muslim women.

The signatories criticized the ‘openly misogynistic hate speech against minority communities, which ‘celebrates a rape culture against Muslim women’ being ‘targeted for their religious identity. 

The outrage is in response to the targeted sexualized hate and harm to Muslim women on GitHub, a free web platform. A website called ‘Sulli Deals’ was created on GitHub, a free web platform, where Twitter handles and photos of Muslim women were put out without consent, allowing users to take their pick on the ‘deal of the day.’ Sulli is a derogatory term used to refer to Muslim women, by Hindu extremists.

The letter demanded immediate action be taken against the culprits, that the internet be a safe space for women to express dissent and difference, that commercial portals develop policies to prevent their users from treating women as objects and de-humanizing them and that the cyber cell, social media platforms such as GitHub, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook and the National Commissions for Women and National Human Rights Commission must at once take prompt action against the individuals who are responsible for such acts of terror and intimidation.

The signatories demanded prompt and effective legal action to deter and hold the perpetrators accountable. 

The letter was also endorsed by organizations such as Bebaak Collective, Campaign Against Hate Speech, Association for Democratic Rights (Punjab) and prominent individuals from the Campus Front of India (CFI), Indian American Muslim Council, Led By Foundation and All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawrat.

Bengaluru: The two-day Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) or class 10 exams began across the state on Monday, amid COVID-19 concerns.

As many as 8.76 lakh students have registered for the examination.

This is for the second consecutive year that the Department of Primary and Secondary Education is conducting the SSLC examinations amid the pandemic.

Due to COVID-19 situation, for the first time, the examinations have been reduced from six days to two days, with students writing one paper for three subjects per day.

On Monday, students are writing the exam for core subjects mathematics, science and social science, while on July 22 there will be exams for languages such as Kannada, English, Hindi, Sanskrit.

The department this year has increased the number of examination centres and teachers on duty, Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board officials have said, adding that as many as 1.19 lakh staff have been deployed for 73,064 exam halls in 4,885 centres across the state.

Special arrangements have been made for 23 students who have tested positive for COVID-19, to write the exams at the COVID Care Centres in their respective districts.

All the necessary arrangementshave been made at the exam centres keeping the pandemic situation in mind, wherein only 12 students, one per bench, will be seated in a classroom and those with symptoms will be allowed to take the exam in a separate room, officials said.

All the staff involved in examination duty have received at least one dose of vaccination, the official added.

The exam will be in the form of multiple-choice questions and the students will have to mark the right answers on the Optical Mark Reading (OMR) sheet given to them.

Wishing all the students appearing for SSLC exams good luck, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in a tweet said, “I urge my young friends to relax and focus on exams. I assure parents that our government has made all arrangements to ensure exams are held safely.”

Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar too in a tweet assured parents that the exam centres are safe for students and the government has taken all necessary measures to conduct the exams in a safe environment.