Davanagere (Karnataka): A man allegedly bit off a portion of his wife’s nose following a heated argument over loan repayment in this district, police said on Friday.

The incident occurred on July 8 at Mantaraghatta village in Davanagere district.

Vidhya is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Shivamogga district and is stated to be in stable condition.

According to the police, Vidhya had taken a loan for which her husband, Vijay, had stood as guarantor. When she failed to repay the instalments, the lenders began harassing the couple, leading to frequent quarrels.

During one such argument, Vijay allegedly abused and assaulted Vidhya. In a fit of rage, he bit off a portion of her nose, causing serious injury, a senior police officer said.

She was initially taken to the Channagiri government hospital for first aid and later shifted to a hospital in Shivamogga for advanced treatment.

Police have registered a case and initiated further investigation.

Bengaluru: A recent survey on the Scheduled Caste (SC) population in Karnataka, overseen by Justice Nagamohan Das, has revealed a decline in SC numbers—contradicting national and historical state trends that indicate steady growth.

While the SC population in the state as per the 2011 census was 18%, it may have reduced by one or two per cent as per the latest SC survey, pending the completion of the enumeration, as reported by The New Indian Express on Wednesday.

The findings have triggered alarm among policymakers, demographers, and advocates of social justice, given their implications for representation and resource allocation. Justice Das acknowledged the observed dip. “Yes, I too have noticed the decline. It could either be because SCs have migrated out of Bengaluru to other districts—which is supported by higher SC figures in thirteen districts—or due to social taboo. Many may have hesitated to identify themselves as SCs,” TNIE quoted Das as saying.

While the survey concluded in all parts of the state on Monday, data collection has been extended by six days in Bengaluru city and its urban periphery, which officials believe may help explain the initial drop in figures.

“We have covered 95% of other areas and there is no issue there. But for Bengaluru and surrounding urban areas, we have sought time till July 6 to complete data collection,” Das stated.

Sources quoted in the report noted that verification protocols—such as requiring caste certificates or ration cards—may have led to the exclusion of individuals who previously misrepresented their caste identity. “While this increases the accuracy of the survey, it also lowers the final SC count,” they noted.

Sociologists and survey experts quoted by the news outlet suggest that persistent social stigma could also be a factor. “Many SC individuals still hesitate to declare their identity in public documentation,” an expert noted.

Shivamogga (Karnataka): A 70-year-old woman was allegedly tied to a tree and brutally “assaulted” by her neighbour following an argument over garbage disposal in front of her house, police said on Monday.

The incident occurred on the morning of June 24 in Gautampura village but came to light only after a video of the assault went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage, they added.

The elderly woman, Huchamma, confronted her neighbour, Prema, for dumping garbage in front of her house, leading to a heated argument during which she allegedly made remarks about the latter’s “character”.

Enraged, Prema, with the help of two male relatives, allegedly dragged the elderly woman out of her house, tied her to a tree, and “assaulted” her, a senior police officer said.

“A case was registered at Anandapura police station the very next day, as soon as the matter came to our notice. Prema, who is also a relative of the septuagenarian, has been arrested,” police added.

Mangaluru: The district authorities reportedly said that the newly constructed dams in Dakshina Kannada are structurally sound and currently pose no safety risks.

An executive engineer from Mangaluru City Corporation mentioned that regular maintenance is conducted in advance of the monsoon season to ensure all structures remain intact. “Thumbe vented dam, being a newly built structure, has so far not exhibited any signs of cracks or damage. We have written to a Bengaluru-based government-affiliated firm to conduct a safety inspection of the dam,” The New Indian Express quoted the official as saying.

The official further noted that contingency measures, including the installation of stop-log gates and a retaining wall, have been implemented to manage emergencies in the event of a failure of the main gates.

Similarly, the AMR Dam, under the Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ), has a storage capacity of 12.5 million cubic metres at a height of 18.9 metres, has also been declared safe by the authorities.

The Harekala dam, managed by the irrigation department and constructed in recent years, has not shown any signs of structural distress, officials added.
Other key infrastructures, such as the Jakribettu bridge-cum-barrage in Bantwal and the Saralikatte dam downstream of Uppinangady across the Nethravati river, are maintained on a quarterly basis to ensure structural integrity.

“There are 471 major and minor vented dams across Dakshina Kannada. We have received no reports of damage to any of these dams due to sand mining,” TNIE quoted an executive engineer of the district irrigation department.

According to a KPCL official, the Mani Dam, built across the Varahi river in 1989 and maintained by KPCL, also remains in good condition, supported by regular maintenance and adequate funding.

Tumakuru (Karnataka): Four members of a family, including a 13-year-old boy, have died after the car they were travelling in allegedly collided head-on with a speeding mini truck on the bypass near Kunigal in this district, police said on Monday.

The deceased have been identified as Seebe Gowda (50), his wife Shobha (45), daughter Dumbishree (23), and son Bhanukiran (13), they said.

According to police, the accident occurred at around 8 pm on Sunday when the family was on their way to drop their son Bhanukiran, a class 8 student at Valley School, to his hostel near Bidanagere on the outskirts of Kunigal.

Gowda lived with his family in Magadi town. He, along with his family, was travelling together after dinner to drop the boy back at his school hostel.

On the way, when they reached the Kunigal bypass, a speeding Canter truck coming from the wrong side on a one-way road had a head-on collision, a senior police officer said.

The car was also speeding, and the impact of the accident was so severe that all four passengers in the car died on the spot, he said.

The driver of the mini truck has been booked under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and arrested, the officer added.

MLA Janardhana Reddy

Bengaluru: Independent MLA and BJP supporter G Janardhana Reddy was on Thursday disqualified as the member of Karnataka Legislative Assembly after a special CBI court convicted him in the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) illegal iron ore mining case.

With this, one seat of the state assembly has fallen vacant.

“Consequent upon conviction of G Janardhana Reddy Member of Karnataka Legislative Assembly representing the Gangavati Constituency by the Court of the Principal Special Judge for CBI, cases, Hyderabad in CC.No.1 of 2012, he stands disqualified from the membership of Karnataka Legislative Assembly from the date of conviction i.e., May 6, 2025 in terms of the provisions of article 191(1) (e) of the Constitution of India read with section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” Karnataka Assembly said in a notification.

It said, “Such disqualification shall continue for a further period of six years since his release, unless the conviction is stayed by a competent Court.”

A special CBI court in Hyderabad on Tuesday convicted Reddy and three others in the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) illegal iron ore mining case after a prolonged legal battle spanning nearly 14 years.

The court sentenced them to seven years rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each.

Reddy was named accused number two. The court also imposed a Rs 1 lakh fine on the company.

Soon after the judgment, the CBI took Janardhana Reddy and others into custody, and were shifted to the prison.

Janardhana Reddy had formed the Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha (KRPP) ahead of the Assembly polls in 2023, snapping his two-decade-old association with the BJP, and won the Gangavati assembly seat.

He, however, rejoined the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls by merging his outfit with the saffron party.

Mangalore University

Mangaluru: Mangalore University has landed in controversy over alleged misuse of Rs 7 crore sanctioned under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA-1) for constructing boys’ and girls’ hostels.

An expert committee from the Karnataka State Higher Education Council, tasked with verifying the fund utilisation, found no hostel buildings on campus. When questioned, university officials reportedly attempted to mislead the committee by claiming the funds were used for an “international hostel.” However, the utilisation certificate submitted to the Higher Education Department claimed the construction of two separate hostels.

The issue was raised at a State Project Director’s meeting, following which a show-cause notice was issued. Department sources told Deccan Herald that the explanation submitted by the university was unsatisfactory. A senior official confirmed that the council had recommended recovery of misused funds and imposition of penalties.

RUSA funds, 60% of which are contributed by the Centre and 40% by the state, are meant to be used strictly for the specified purpose. In this case, Rs 3.5 crore each was allocated for the boys’ and girls’ hostels.

Vice Chancellor P L Dharma said an internal inquiry was ordered after a recent syndicate meeting. “A notice has been issued to the then finance officer. The inquiry will conclude in 15 days, and the report will be submitted to the government,” he said.

Higher Education Minister Dr M C Sudhakar stated that the department is awaiting the university’s internal inquiry report before initiating further action.

Mangaluru [Karnataka]: Forty-five inmates of Mangaluru jail were admitted to the government Wenlock Hospital on Wednesday after complaining of diarrhoea and related issues, officials said.

One of them is in critical condition and is receiving treatment in the hospital’s ICU, they added.

According to jail officials, the inmates were served rice and sambar for lunch and ‘avalakki’ (flattened rice) for breakfast. They reported discomfort only at around 3 pm after which all 45 inmates were taken to the hospital in police vehicles under security and admitted for treatment.

Commissioner of Police Anupam Agarwal visited the hospital and spoke to the doctors attending to the inmates.

Speaking to the media later, Agarwal said food samples had been sent for testing and that the cause of the suspected food poisoning would be determined once the report was available.

He noted that the jail houses 350 inmates, of whom only 45 were affected.

He also confirmed that one inmate is in serious condition and has been admitted to the ICU.

Vijayapura (Karnataka): Four children drowned while their mother, who allegedly threw them into a canal and jumped in with them, was rescued in this district on Monday, police said

A local fisherman who saw Bhagyashree Bhajantri (26) struggling for life in a canal in Benal village of Nidagundi Taluk rescued her. Her four girl children including a twins were found dead, they added.

Bhajantri hailed from Telagi village in Kolar Taluk. It is alleged that she took the extreme step due to frequent quarrel in the family, police said.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Sharing the story of a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law who dug a borewell and made a living using the money received through the ‘Gruha Lakshmi’ scheme, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Sunday expressed happiness as the scheme was successfully fulfilling its objective.

Gruha Lakshmi is one among the five guarantee schemes implemented by Siddaramaiah’s government after coming to power. It provides Rs 2,000 per month to women head of families.

“I was happy to hear the words of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law who dug a borewell and made a living using the money received through our government’s Gruha Lakshmi scheme,” Siddaramaiah posted on ‘X’.

Mother-in-law Mabubee and daughter-in-law Roshan Begum of Maldar lane in the Gajendragad town of Gadag district, have saved the money they receive every month from the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, and dug a borewell on their agricultural land, thereby obtaining abundant water, he said.

“The fact that this scheme, which aims to empower the state’s poor families financially and make them self-reliant, is successfully fulfilling its objective. It has made me feel satisfied as the person who implemented the scheme,” the chief minister said.

This is a rebuke to those who criticised the scheme, stating that it will cause fights between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law and break up families, he further said, adding that, “there are thousands of such success stories that have not come to light, and there is no doubt that Gruha Lakshmi has literally brought happiness to the lives of mothers in the state.”

Highlighting that Pranati Prakash is the first gender minority person to receive funds from the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, the CM in another post said, the government decided to extend the scheme, which was only meant for women, to gender minorities with the aim of empowering them, as they are deprived of opportunities and facilities, and to bring them into the mainstream of society, so that they can lead a dignified life like everyone else.