BAGALKOT: A pall of gloom descended in Mahalingapura as social worker Ibrahim Sutar, 82, who is popularly known as ‘Kabir of Kannada’, breathed his last after suffering a severe cardiac arrest in the wee hours on Saturday, February 5, 2022.

Grieving family members said, “Ibrahim Sutar was ailing from diabetes and hypertension for the past few years. He complained about heartache on Friday. The doctor recommended an angioplasty. While he was being taken to the hospital, he breathed last on the way.”

He is survived by a wife, two children and grandchildren.

The family has made all the necessary arrangements for the public to pay their last respects at Mahatma Gandhi grounds in Mahalingapura. The final rites are likely to be performed on Sunday, according to the relatives.

The Union Government recognized his social work towards spreading social and communal harmony and awarded him the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, in 2018.

Ibrahim Sutar was known to spread harmony through his songs and bhajans, which were popular not only in Karnataka but also in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Delhi and Goa. He is popular among the masses in the districts of North Karnataka for his spiritual discourses.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Minister for Water Resources Govind Karjol condoled the passing away of Ibrahim Sutar.

BENGALURU: Seeking to end the hijab (head scarf) controversy in education institutions in Karnataka that has begun taking political colour, the State government on Saturday ordered banning wearing clothes which disturb equality, integrity and public order in schools and colleges.

“Invoking 133 (2) of the Karnataka Education Act-1983, which says a uniform style of clothes has to be worn compulsorily. The private school administration can choose a uniform of their choice,” the government order said.

It said the students have to wear the dress chosen by the College Development Committee or the appellate committee of the administrative board of the pre-university colleges, which come under the pre-university education department.

“In the event of administrative committee not selecting a uniform, clothes which disturb equality, integrity and public law and order should not be worn,” the order said.

The government order noted that the KEA-1983 had explained that all students should wear a common uniform so that they should belong to a common family and behave in a manner that there is no discrimination.

The order also said that the second pre-university or the 12th standard is crucial for the students in their life.

A common programme has been chalked out for all the schools and colleges in the state for the benefit of students, the order said.

“However, the education department has noticed that in some education institutions, the boys and girls have started behaving according to their religion, which hurts the equality and unity,” it added.

The order also cited the rulings of Supreme Court and various High Courts in India in favour of uniform.

Initially the controversy was restricted to Udupi and Chikkamagaluru in the beginning of January as Muslim girls started attending classes wearing Hijab.

In protest, the Hindu students started attending classes wearing saffron scarves around their neck.

Gradually the issue spread to other parts of the state where Muslim girls demanded permission to attend classes wearing head scarves.

The issue of Hijab had snowballed into a major controversy with political parties striving to derive mileage over it.

While the Congress leaders backed Hijab, the BJP said it will not allow ‘Talibanisation’ of education institutions.

Congress Legislature Party leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has thrown his weight behind Muslim girls on their right to wear the hijab to educational institutions, accused the BJP and RSS of trying to create communal disharmony throughout the State in the name of Hijab.

He urged Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to immediately put a brake to this and arrest those who instigate people.

Further claiming that the main agenda of the Sangh Parivar is to deny education to Muslim girls in the name of Hijab, Siddaramaiah said, “PM Narendra Modi speaks about ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padao’. Is he not aware of this incident?”

“The Constitution has given the right to practice any religion which means one can wear any clothes according to their religion. Prohibiting ‘Hijab’ wearing students from entering school is a violation of fundamental rights,” he added.

Meanwhile, the ruling BJP’s state president and Member of Parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel said the government will not allow hijab at educational institutions and will take strict measures to ensure that things go as per rules of the school, and won’t let things be turned into “Taliban like”.

“There is a BJP government in this state, there is no room for hijab or any other related incidents. Schools are temples of mother Saraswathi (goddess of education); everyone should abide by rules and regulations there. Bringing religion there is not right, what students need is education, if someone can’t follow rules they can choose their path elsewhere,” he said.

Kateel also hit out at Siddaramaiah accusing him of bringing in divisive policies like celebrating Tipu jayanti and schemes like ‘Shadi Bhagya’ among others aimed at creating rift between the communities, when he was CM.

With the issue snowballing into a major controversy and the matter coming up before the High Court, Chief Minister Bommai on Friday held a meeting with Law and Education departments, and the government has asked educational institutions to follow existing uniform related rules, until the Court comes out with an order in this regard, next week.

The Karnataka High Court on February 8 will hear the petitions filed by five girls studying in a Government Pre-university College in Udupi, questioning hijab restriction in college.

JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, hitting out at both the BJP and Congress for the controversy, said instead of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padao’, they are trying to make it “Beti Hatao”, “they should stop it.

” He asked the government to maintain the status quo at institutions where hijab was allowed till now, and not to allow it at places where it has started recently. Instead of Hindu-Muslim issue, children being used for such thing is more dangerous,” he added.

Calling hijab row, a systematic conspiracy, Kannada and Culture Minister V Sunil Kumar said, hijab or burka can be worn from home to college premises, but on entering classrooms everyone should wear uniform and it is the system.

VIJAYAPURA:  The district became only one in North Karnataka and second in the State to achieve 100 per cent vaccination in both the doses against the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the state health bulletin, “The district health authorities have administered first dose of vaccine to over 17.04 lakh people against the target of 16.34 lakh. With this, the first dose of vaccination rate stands at 105 per cent. With regard to the second dose, the district has vaccinated overall 16.34 lakh people, achieving 100 percent.”

“Bengaluru Rural is the only other district in the State to have achieved 100 per cent vaccination. However, over 12 districts have jabbed over 90 per cent of the eligible people with both the doses. The state vaccination rate for first dose stands at 101 per cent and for second dose at 88 per cent,” as per the bulletin.

The Covid vaccination drive kick-started in the district in January, 2021. According to previous population census held in 2011, the district administration had set a target of inoculating 16.34 lakh people. However, at present 17.54 lakh people have been vaccinated with the first dose.

The district administration paced up the second dose vaccination after the vaccination mela launched on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 16, 2021. The district managed to achieve 100 per cent vaccination with both doses in just over one year.

DC P Sunil Kumar said “With the efforts of health personnel, Asha workers and staff of other departments, the district administration has achieved cent per cent target of vaccination with both doses to all the eligible people in the district. ”

BENGALURU/MANGALURU: Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Thursday said students should neither wear hijab (headscarf) nor saffron shawls to schools and colleges, and stressed that they should wear only the prescribed uniform. His remarks come amid a row over some students of a government PU college in Udupi wearing the hijab in classrooms. In another incident, girl students of a government PU college in Kundapur, who reached the institution wearing the hijab on Thursday, were stopped at the gate.

Addressing the media here, Jnanendra said educational institutions should overcome the barriers of religion and caste and promote the feeling that all are one. Religious practices should be followed in places of worship like temples, churches and mosques. In educational institutions, students should have the feeling of oneness and there should be an academic atmosphere for students to develop a culture of national unity and integrity, he stressed.

“No one should come to school for practicing their religion,” he said, while responding to a question on students wearing saffron shawls as a counter to a few students wearing the hijab. He said he has directed the police to keep an eye on fundamental organisations and to take stern action against those who disturb unity.

The issue has caught national attention with former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor slamming the authorities. Mehbooba, who also sports a hijab, said, “Beti bachao-beti padhao is yet another hollow slogan. Muslims are being denied the right to education simply because of their attire. Legitimising the marginalisation of Muslims is one more step towards converting Gandhi’s India into Godse’s India.”

Tharoor tweeted, “It’s been a strength of India that everyone is free to wear what they want. If the hijab is disallowed, what about the Sikh turban? The Hindu’s forehead mark? The Christian’s crucifix? This college is going down a slippery slope. Let the girls in. Let them study. Let them decide.”

Davanagere: Members of the Hindu Jagaran Vedike (HJV) on Thursday staged a protest in front of the DC’s office in Davanagere, urging the government to give directions on wearing of uniforms across all schools and colleges in the state. In a memorandum to the government submitted through DC Mahantesh Bilagi, the activists said the adamant attitude of some Muslim girls over wearing of hijab and attending classes cannot be tolerated, as it is a fundamentalist mindset. Educational institutions are centres where religion, caste and other factors are not given preference, and proper dress code and uniform will bring equality among students.

“A section of society is stating that wearing of hijab is a right provided by the Constitution, this is wrong. The same Constitution states that all residents of India are equal, hence there shouldn’t be dress difference between Hindus and Muslims,” they said. 

MANGALURU/UDUPI: The controversy over college students wearing headscarves in classrooms seems to be escalating rather than seeing a resolution, with another government PU college in Udupi district denying entry to a group of girl students on Thursday.

This comes even as some students of a government PU College in Udupi city are fighting for their ‘constitutional right’ after they were denied entry into classrooms with headscarves. One of them have also moved the High Court over the issue.

On Thursday, a video went viral, which showed Ramakrishna, principal of the Government PU College at Kundapur, closing the gates on 28 hijab-clad students as they tried to enter the campus. The girls have been attending classes with headscarves for long. 

Just a day earlier, more than 100 Hindu boys had turned up with saffron shawls to register their protest against Muslim girls wearing the hijab. Following this, local Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty, who is also the college development committee president, convened a meeting and strictly told the college principal to stick to the college uniform.

While the girls strongly registered their protest, telling the principal that his ‘act to deny them education’ is wrong and will jeopadise their future as the exams are just two months away, the principal maintained that he was only implementing the MLA’s directives. Meanwhile, the issue has taken a political turn and with different political parties indulging in mud-slinging over the matter.

The hijab controversy is nothing new to the region where a majority of Muslim women prefer to cover their heads while stepping out of home. A few years ago, the century-old St Agnes College in Mangaluru, a women’s college, had faced protests over a hijab ban, but the issue was amicably resolved. But this time, the controversy got thicker as ruling party MLAs got actively involved in it.

Udupi district in-charge minister S Angara told reporters on Thursday that a high-powered committee, formed to look into the issue, is expected to submit its report soon. Different government colleges cannot have different rules, he stressed.

In the light of the developments, there is a fear that many poor Muslim families may not send their daughters to government colleges. Reacting to the issue, Congress leader and former minister UT Khader noted that since his daughter refused to give up the hijab, he had to send her to a Muslim-run private college, highlighting the predicament of the community.

Parmesh S Jain

Kindness is an act of bravery! – Kamal Pant, Commissioner of police:

A Traffic Police constable,Kasappa Kallur deployed at Cubbon Park Traffic Police Station in Bengaluru is receiving praise for saving the life of a person by changing the punctured tyre of the ambulance the patient was being transported in.

The constable was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 5,000 by Joint Commissioner of police (Traffic) Dr B.R Ravikanthe Gowda for his humanitarian act.

Kindness is an act of bravery! – Kamal Pant.

Proud of Constable Kasappa Kallur who turned savior when the ambulance carrying a brain tumor patient had a flat tyre.He helped the ambulance driver change the tire and the patient was able to reach the hospital in the nick of time.

His presence of mind and devotion to duty is praiseworthy. Well done!👏 ,Says Commissioner of police Kamal Pant.

While on one hand the traffic department is at the receiving end of brick bats from citizens in the last few days,they are also showing up as samaritan.

A traffic constable who was on his duty near CID junction helped a stranded ambulance to reach the hospital on time by changing deflated tyre.

Police Constable Kasappa Kallura was on duty at the CID junction when an ambulance heading from Maharani college junction towards Chalukya circle shifting a 45-year-old patient with neurological issue to hospital on an emergency situation on Tuesday.

When the ambulance reached the CID junction one of the tyre was deflated and lead to a panic situation.

The driver was called to get a replacement but he was not getting through after trying for 15 minutes the time was running short and the woman and her daughter accompanied the patient started crying in panic.

Kallura who was noticing this,reached near the ambulance,and immediately chaged the tyre by within minutes and asked the driver to carry on.

By then the other ambulance reached the spot to shift.But since shifting process may delay further,the ambulance driver drove off thanking the constable for timely help.

Few passers-by noticing this recorded the incident and put up on social media and appreciated Kallura for his help and he was praised by netizens on various social media platforms.

considering the good gesture,Joint commissioner of Police (Traffic ),Dr BR Ravikanthe Gowda on Wednesday rewarded Kallura with Rs.5000 and a appreciation letter.

We rise to the occasion and do our beat at any given situation and this is the best example, senior officer told.

Police Constable Kasappa Kallur’s timely help to change the punctured tyre of an ambulance transporting a critically ill patient is truly inspiring.

A big salute to all our policemen and women who go beyond their call of duty to serve citizens.@DgpKarnataka @CPBlr Dr K Sudhakar, Health and Medical Education Minister said in his tweet.

Chief Minister of Karnataka,Basavaraj Bommai, Home Minister of Karnataka,Araga Jnanendra,Health and Medical Education Minister,Dr K Sudhakar,DG-IGP, Praveen Sood, Commissioner of police,Kamal Pant,Joint CP Traffic, Dr BR Ravikanthe Gowda, DCP Traffic East,Shantharaju M,ACP,Ramalingegowda,PI, Gopinath,and other senior officers and staff of cubbon park traffic appreciated the super cop,Kasappa Kallur who went beyond the call on duty and did a life saving act and a suitable and special reward will be given to the gud Samartian cop he added.

Parmesh S Jain

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet in the NIA special court in Bengaluru against eight persons,including Deepthi Marla alias Maryam,in connection with the ISIS terrorist Kerala module case.

The others named in the chargesheet are Mohammed Waqar Lone alias Wilson Kashmiri,Mizha Siddeeque,Shifa Haris alias Ayesha,Obaid Hamid Matta,Madesh Shankar alias Abdullah,Ammar Abdul Rahiman and Muzamil Hassan Bhat.

The NIA had registered a case in March 2021 pertaining to the alleged terrorist activities of Mohammed Ameen alias Abu Yahya,a resident of Kerala, and his associates,who had allegedly been running various ISIS propaganda channels on different social media platforms,such as Telegram,Hoop and Instagram,and radicalising and recruiting new members for the ISIS module. 

Earlier,NIA had filed chargesheet against three accused persons in this case in September 2021. 

According to officials,investigation revealed that all the eight accused are affiliated with banned terrorist organisation ISIS.

They were involved in radicalising, recruiting,organising terror funds and grooming like-minded gullible Muslim youth through different social media platforms to join ISIS.

Parmesh S Jain

The third wave of the covid 19 pandemic has been met successfully,and now,our aim should be on regarding facing of probable upcoming waves of the pandemic,said BBMP Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta.

Addressing a virtual meeting,today with BBMP Covid 19 expert committee,he said that,with the help of the very active mobile triage units (MTUs), Tele triaging and the Doctors and staff,around 3000+ covid infected persons are being triaged at their home everyday.

The number of covid-19 cases is decreasing.The third wave is being met successfully with the help of all. We have to be ready to face another new wave of the pandemic arriving in the future if any.

During this third wave,efforts were put for the eradication of fear among the general public in the city and focused on managing the situations.

Vaccinatons is also being done.Precaution dose vaccination is also expected to reach the target soon. Other side, the number of hospitalization is also less, he said.

During the month of January, covid admissions contributed only about 1.8% active cases. Majority of admissions were in the age group of 60+. It has been instructed to closely monitor ICU admissions.

Critical bed admissions samples will be sent for genomic sequence. At present, all such samples are closely monitored, the Chief Commissioner said.

BBMP Special Commissioner Dr Trilok Chandra, Chief Health Officer Dr Balasundar, members of the BBMP Covid 19 expert committee and others were present in the meeting.

Parmesh S Jain

In a joint operation by Hebbal and RT Nagar police on tuesday arrested a 42-year-old man who would follow victims who used to drop their kids to school and then click the photos of home makers holding keys to make duplicate keys and steal from their houses.

The accused has been identified as Murali P, a resident of Kaval Byrasandra,a salesman at a private firm in 2009 and worked for few years before he quit the job to take up the house break work full time.

Senior officer told media persons,A burglary case was reported in hebbal police station in which the complainant said that when the woman returned home early after dropping her son to school in December last week she found someone has gained entry into the house using duplicate keys and made away with valuables.

Based on complaint,a special team was formed under the leadership of, ACP,JC Nagar Sub-Division,Smt.Reena Suvarna,a team headed by PI,Hebbal police station,Chidanand M Gadag and crime staff of RT Nagar police station swung into action.

The team who were on lookout in a joint operation the team analysed CCTV footage in the area and in one of the CCTV the team identified the accused and the team using technology skill of investigation nabbed the accused as his luck ran out when he was caught.

During investigation the accused confessed the crime and it was found the accused had burgled over 14 houses and looted Rs 59 lakh worth gold and silver articles since 13 years.

He was caught and handed over to the police who took him to the custody for a detailed investigations .

Explaining the modus Operandi he said that the accused would follow woman who were going to drop their children to the school .

Then he would zero in on his target based on the dress and gold they wear and follow them closely before clicking the picture of the house keys which they generally hold in the hand.

The accused had also purchased a duplicate key making machine and used to make a key at home after doing reccee the house for few days before gaining entry into the house with duplicate keys.

Based on his confession the team have arrested his associate Shivaram who was disposing his booty and getting him money.

With his arrest the team recovered 1132 grams of gold valuables and 1210 grams of silver articles worth Rs 59 lakh from him.Murali was living with his wife and children in a rented house and spend the money lavishly and now has landed in police net after 13 years is cooling his heels in jail.

Kudos to the JC Nagar Subdivision Officers for apprehending 2 burglars involved in 14 house break-in and theft (HBT) cases. Gold ornaments worth ₹59 lakh, 4 bikes, and a machine used to manufacture duplicate keys have been seized.Kamal Pant,Commissioner of police said in his tweet.

14 cases of burglary detected..2 accused arrested.. Rs 59 lakhs worth of 1 kg 120 gms stolen Gold ornaments, 1 kg silver articles seized.. Grt work by North division officers.. @CPBlr @BlrCityPolice – Sandeep Patil,Addl CP West,said in his tweet.

Finally Bengaluru Police Commissioner,Kamal Pant has appreciated Addl CP West,Sandeep Patil,DCP North,Vinayak Patil,ACP JC Nagar, Sub-Division,Smt.Reena Suvarna,PI,Chidanand M Gadag,and whole crime team of Hebbal and RT Nagar who were part of the operation who has nabbed a dreaded and mastermind burglars who used to loot houses by making duplicate keys a suitable reward will be given to the team for their excellent investigation and exemplary work he added.

Parmesh S Jain

Hundreds of animal lovers in Bengaluru participated in the last rites of Lara a street dog that was killed after it was deliberately run over by a luxury car, driven by a 23-year-old.

Sandalwood actor-turned-politician Ramya was also among those who had gathered to mourn the dog’s death.

Lara was cremated at the Sumanahalli animal crematorium in Bengaluru, on Tuesday, February 1. 

Speaking after the cremation,Ramya said, “Accidents do happen.Human beings do commit mistakes.

But,in this case,the dog has been run over deliberately. We couldn’t tolerate this act.Laws regarding animals are not strict in our country.The accused can pay Rs 50 and come out.

Empathy is not only for human beings, it should also be there for the animals.She also urged the government to strengthen laws against animal cruelty.

Earlier,condemning the act,Ramya had appealed on social media for animal lovers to attend the cremation of Lara.

After the cremation,she thanked people who “loved and cared” for Lara,saying that they inspired her.

To Badri, Sudha, Advaith, Priya, Gayatri aunty, Sanjana and everyone who loved and cared for Lara- you inspire me. The fight goes on,” she said on Twitter.

Hours after the cremation of stray dog run over by Adi Narayana , grand son of former MP Adikeshavalu was in Jayanagar Last week, was completed on Tuesday, a group of animal right activists and stray dog caretakers met DCP south division seeking protection.

The delegation comprising of around 15 members expressed their concern about the safety especially from the accused who could harm them.

Mr.Harish Pandey assure them that they would initiate strict action against the accused and his bail gets cancelled if he violate the bail condition.

Adi Narayana was arrested on Monday by Siddapura police an his luxury car seized following a complaint filed by one of the animal right activities .

The post mortem of the dog was conducted and the cremation was completed.The activists gathered at the crematorium demanded strict action against those who kill stray dogs as it is a third such incident in the last two months.