BENGALURU: A cluster of 10 cases has emerged at an apartment complex in Mahadevapura zone. Nine people are asymptomatic and are in home isolation. The sole person with symptoms is being treated at a government hospital.This cluster comes on the heels of another at Bommanahalli, where 109 cases were reported recently.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike officials said the apartment is at Ward No. 50 at Ambalipura in Bellandur. The first positive case was reported on February 15. By Friday, 10 people had contracted the disease, triggering the BBMP to start testing all residents. 

Dr Surendra, BBMP health officer, Mahadevapura zone, said the apartment has 1,500 people. “So far, 500 people have been tested, while the rest will be tested on Tuesday. Five who tested positive are senior citizens. The primary and secondary contacts of those who tested positive are home quarantined,” he added.

BBMP Joint Commissioner for Mahadevapura Venkatachalapathi said the person who first tested positive had travelled to Kerala and is aged around 42. The samples have been sent for genome sequencing, he said. 

The BBMP has sealed the apartment and closed the public utility areas within the complex. Entry and exit of people has been prohibited. BBMP officials appealed to the people with symptoms or with a travel history to Kerala and Maharashtra to get themselves tested. Resident welfare associations have been told to keep a track of such cases and report them to the BBMP.

The tiger captured in Manchalli village was found with injuries and aged approximately seven to nine years, an official said.

“It was tranquilised by a veterinarian along side help from tamed elephants Abhimanyu and Gopal from Mathigodu Elephant Camp”. The tiger was later shifted to Mysuru Zoo.

Chenni (60), an estate labourer, was killed by the tiger when she headed out of the house at around 7 am on Sunday at T Shettigeri village.

Fourteen-year-old Aiyappa was killed in the tiger attack on Saturday at Kumturu village, just 10 km away from T Shettigeri village, official sources said.

Bengaluru: A special NIA court here convicted two persons for their role in smuggling Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) in the country and fined them Rs 15,000.

The FICN racketeers — Gangadhar Kholkar and Sabiruddin — were convicted by the NIA Special Court in Bengaluru under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on Saturday.

They were sentenced to six years imprisonment and fined Rs 15,000.

The court had earlier convicted three accused — Mohammed Sajjad Ali, MG Raju and Abdul Kadir — on December 2 last year under relevant sections of the IPC for their role in the conspiracy, and had sentenced them to six years imprisonment and fined them.

The case was originally registered in August 2018 in Bengaluru’s Madanayakanahally police station against four accused after FICN having a face value of Rs 6,84,000 in denomination of Rs 2,000 was seized from their possession.

The NIA re-registered the case in September 2018 and took over the investigation.

The probe revealed the involvement of four more persons, including three FICN suppliers in Malda, West Bengal.

The NIA filed chargesheets against seven persons — Mohammed Sajjad Ali, M G Raju, Gangadhar Ramappa Kolkar, Vanitha, Abdul Kadir, Sabiruddin and Vijay.

The trial continues against charge sheeted accused Vanitha and Vijay.

Further investigation against absconding accused Jahiruddin was underway, the NIA added.

BENGALURU : Under attack from his own community’s sect, even as his political rivals make hay, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa is all set to deploy his ministers and MLAs from the Panchamasali Lingayat grouping to firefight his latest conundrum. The Panchamasali Lingayats, who are demanding reservation under 2A category, held a massive rally in Bengaluru on Sunday.

Unable to respond directly, lest it fans the embers, leading to a full revolt and damaging his image as the undisputed mass leader of the Lingayats, Yediyurappa is looking to entrust the task of tackling the precarious situation to Mines and Geology Minister Murugesh Nirani and Small Scale Industries and Information Minister C C Patil. 

After the two ministers’ failed attempt to woo thousands of Panchamasali Lingayats, who had gathered in Bengaluru on Sunday demanding reservation, the duo, flanked by BJP legislators from the community, will have a solidarity show with the CM through a press conference on Monday. 

The ministers’ attempts to dissuade the community from continuing the protest ended in booing from the crowds, ultimatums from seers who are leading the protests and culminated in the duo leaving in a huff, disappointed. “The CM wants the overall welfare of the community. He has, in fact, already written to the Backward Classes Commission to conduct a study and submit a report. My request to the community members is to have patience and trust the government.

We are making all efforts to bring the Panchamasali community under the 2A category,” Murugesh Nirani told TNIE. BJP sources said the general perception within the party was that politics is being played out to embarrass the CM and the BJP governments at the State and Centre. The ministers and the legislators are set to use back-channel talks with the community seers and leaders to compel them to put off the agitation for some time while also defending the government publicly.

In both attempts, the CM is keen on steering clear of a direct dialogue. Sources close to CM suggested he is more keen on including the Veerashaiva-Lingayats as a whole in the Centre’s OBC list. “There was no need for a religious head, claiming to be fighting for the community’s reservation, to praise Congress’ Vinay Kulkarni who is accused of murdering a BJP leader, on stage. Yatnal, who has been abusing the CM, was allowed to use the stage to launch vulgar attacks. People like Kashappanavar are fuelling the stir with the sole purpose of maligning BJP and CM’s image,” alleged a BJP legislator from the community.

Actor Neeraj Bharadwaj trapped in a conspiracy by Suchitra Krishnmoorthy, Zeenat Aman, Kittu Gidwani and Pallavi Joshi

 Multi-talented influential actor Neeraj Bharadwaj, who became famous with the role of Chirag Modi alias Mota Bhai in teleserial- “Saath Nibhana Saathiya”, will now been playing as one of the important character, as a doctor, off course in a new look, in writer- director Kapil Kaustubh Sharma’s forthcoming web series “Margao -The Closed File”, based on real incident of the Margao murder case.

      Actor Neeraj Bharadwaj will be seen with Suchitra Krishnmoorthy, Zeenat Aman, Kittu Gidwani and Pallavi Joshi in the forthcoming web series based on the Margao murder case. The series will be picturized by the cameraman Dharmendra Vishwas.

           About the web series-“Margao -The Closed File”, being presented by K. C. Sharma. Neeraj Bhardwaj said that this series is being produced on a grand scale. The film is being shot in Gujarat and Goa. The experience of working with these seasoned actresses is very encouraging. This is a story of murder mystery based on real life incident, which will be certainly appreciated by the people.

By Husna Rizwan

‘Asia Jewels Fair 2021’ to dazzles Bengaluru city!

Best place to Shop & witness India’s best Jewellery Designers & Brands under one roof  … At JW Marriott Hotel,Bengaluru from 26^th to 28^th February 2021…

Bengaluru February 2021: Asia Jewels Fair ’2021, one of South India’s most Glamorous & Niche Jewelry Exhibition is hosting its 21st edition in Bengaluru city from 26^th to 28^th February 2021. The Grand jewelry Fair will take place at JW Marriott Hotel, Bengaluru situated near UB City on VittalMallya Road – one of the most luxurious 5-star hotel in Bengaluru from 10.30 a.m. to 8 p.m.  This show is a very exclusive one as for the first time the expo will showcase never seen before best jewelry designs from top handpicked jewelers from across India, all under one roof.

Bengaluru, 19th February 2021: SIBM Bengaluru reopens its campus and welcomes students back after 11 months.

As establishments across the country recuperate from the ill-effects of the ongoing pandemic, business schools are also taking the cautious decision of opening up campuses and calling back the students. For a holistic educational experience, campus-based learnings are crucial, and thus Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Bengaluru has also reopened its gates for students who are willing to come back to the campus on a voluntary basis.

The institute took the decision to extend the academic calendar for both its batches to ensure there’s no compromise with the education quality and standard. Keeping in mind the health and safety of the students, teachers, and staff members, the college was patient and calculated in its decision about the right time to call the students back to Bengaluru. Students are being called in a phased manner, with the first batch having arrived on the 15th of February.

Following safety measures are being taken at the campus:

1. Mandatory RT-PCR negative test report (test having to be undertaken 48 hours before entering the campus), to be carried by the student.
2. Compulsory 14-day quarantine, in a single occupancy room.
3. Doctor available on campus 24×7.
4. Medical insurance of up to Rs 50,000 in case a student contracts Covid-19.

 India and Denmark have begun a new era in the form of a far reaching Green Strategic Partnership that will enable Denmark in delivering sustainable solutions to India. The Green Strategic Partnership is a mutually beneficial arrangement to advance political cooperation, expand economic relations and green growth, create jobs and strengthen cooperation on addressing global challenges and opportunities with focus on an ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.The agreement is in line with the vision expressed by H.E. Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark and Shri. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, who held a virtual summit on September 28, 2020.

India and Denmark agree to be at the forefront in the global fight against climate change. Both countries have set ambitious national targets on climate and energy that will contribute to an implementation of the Paris Agreement. Together, the two countries will show the world that delivering on ambitious climate and sustainable energy goals is possible.

On the occasion of the conferring of knighthood on Ms. Smita Bajoria, Hony. Consul General of Denmark in Kolkata, by the Danish Ambassador H. E. Freddy Svane on behalf of the Queen of Denmark for the Serampore Initiative of restoration of Danish cultural heritage in Serampore.

The Serampore Initiative

The Serampore initiative of the National Museum of Denmark was established in 2008 with the aim of identifying remains of Indo-Danish history in Serampore and restoration of selected buildings from this period. Also to promote knowledge of the common Indo-Danish history of Serampore and promote the same in collaboration with local agencies.

Ms. Smita Bajoria, Hony Consul General of Denmark in Kolkata, took up this initiative requesting the Urban Development Affairs Minister, Govt of West Bengal not to pull down the Governor House and coordinated the efforts of The National Museum of Denmark and Govt of West Bengal Heritage Commission for restoration of the Governor House.

Was instrumental in introducing the National Museum of Denmark to the Stakeholders, Bishop of Church of North India under whose jurisdiction St. Olav’s Church fell for renovation of the church; 

As part of the Serampore Initiative The Governor’s House, St. Olav’s Church and Serampore College were restored.

BENGALURU: In a bid to retain MLC CM Ibrahim in the Congress fold, the party’s General Secretary and state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala personally went to meet the senior leader after consulting Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and KPCC President D K Shivakumar. Last month, Ibrahim met JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda along with former CM H D Kumaraswamy, invoking the displeasure of Congress leaders. Kumaraswamy had visited Ibrahim, after which the two had visited Gowda. 

Ibrahim is a Congress MLC, and there was talk that he would switch sides and be made JDS working president. JDS was also interested in getting back Ibrahim, who had served as Civil Aviation minister in 1996. It is no secret that the JDS got a negligible number of Muslim votes, and their effort to rope in Ibrahim is to try and regain votes in certain pockets where the party lost. It is an open secret that Ibrahim was sending signals about his unhappiness with Congress leadership. He used to be seen with Siddaramaiah regularly, but this was not the case in the past few months.

Ibrahim reportedly told Surjewala, “I have nothing against anyone but I have issues against certain processes, which need to be addressed.’’ Surjewala assured him he would convey his concerns to the high command. The Congress, too, is not ready to take any community’s support for granted, and is especially cautious about the minority issue in the backdrop of Youth Congress president aspirant Mohammed Nalapad’s disqualification after the election, and talk of certain leaders’ malafide intentions.

Minority votes are not the monopoly of the Congress, which is wary of the SDPI  and All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen threat. This new belligerence on the part of the JDS by trying to rope in a strong Muslim leader may not be to Congress’ advantage.    

Bengaluru: Days after alleging RSS was marking houses of those who did not donate for Ram Temple in Ayodhya, former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday said he was not opposed to the construction of the shrine, but only wanted more transparency in the fund mobilisation.

The government has a responsibility to check who was collecting funds for the Ram Temple, he told a press conference here.

“I am neither opposed to the Ram Temple nor did I speak ill of any organisation or the collection of funds for Ram Temple. Even my party members have given money, but I want to know who has authorised those collecting money door-to-door? What’s their background? Who gave them licences,” he said.

He said his objection was only to collection of funds for the temple construction without transparency and “loot and misuse” of funds in the name of Ram.

Kumarswamy had on Monday accused the RSS of marking houses of those who gave donations for Ram Temple in Ayodhya and those who did not and alleged it was similar to what the Nazis did in Germany.

The RSS dismissed the allegations, saying they do not qualify for any response while the state unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which is among the organisations collecting funds for the temple, condemned Kumaraswamy for the charges.

The JDS leader said the donations could be done through online transactions.

“We have opened so many Jan Dhan accounts, then why cannot we collect money online? Why collect on the street and mark the houses?” the JD(S) leader asked.

He further alleged no one gave any account of the money collected in 1990 for the Ram Temple from across the country.

Kumaraswamy said he came from a family which has faith in God, but never misused the name of God.

“We have commitment to the 130 crore people but we dont believe in breaking the society,” the former Chief Minister said.

The VHP Organising Secretary in Karnataka Basavaraj on Tuesday condemned Kumaraswamy’s earlier statement against RSS.

“It happens to be a highly irresponsible tweet coming in from former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sri Ram Mandir Nidhi Samarpana Abhiyan,” (fund mobilisation), Basavaraj said in a statement.

Volunteers of various organisations, including the VHP, were reaching out to all sections of society. The latter were responding positively and contributing towards the construction of the grand temple at Ayodhya, he added.

They did not even demand money from people and the outreach was merely to enable the whole country take part in the effort as “everyone believes strongly that Lord Ram is the identity of Bharat,” he added.

“VHP takes serious note of baseless allegations made by an individual who held the highest office of the state.The VHP also condemns Kumaraswamy’s statement for making unwarranted remarks on the patriotic organization RSS,” Basavaraj said.

The fund collection drive for the Ram Temple started from January 14 on the occasion of Makar Sankranti and will go on till February 27.