Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has taken action against 22 families for utilizing drinking water for non-essential purposes, such as washing cars and gardening, amidst a severe water scarcity in the state. The board has collected fines totaling Rs 1.1 lakh, with each family being levied a fine of Rs 5,000 for violating water conservation directives issued by the board.

According to BWSSB officials, the restrictions were enforced on March 22, and by March 24, 22 instances of violations had been recorded, with fines being collected on the spot and receipts issued. Most of the complaints against the offenders were received through various social media platforms, officials noted.

In the second week of March, the BWSSB imposed a ban on various water-consuming activities in the city, including cleaning vehicles, gardening, construction work, operation of fountains, entertainment purposes, and non-drinking water usage in cinema halls, malls, as well as for road construction and cleanliness.

With Holi celebrations approaching, the BWSSB has also urged residents to refrain from using Cauvery and borewell water for pool parties and rain dances. Additionally, the board has encouraged the installation of aerators in hotels, apartments, and industries to reduce water consumption.

V Somanna, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Tumkur Lok Sabha constituency

In Turuvekere on Monday, V Somanna, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Tumkur Lok Sabha constituency, addressed the media, shedding light on the denial of ticket to MP Anantkumar Hegde this time around. Somanna attributed Hegde’s exclusion from the ticket to his repeated statements regarding the alteration of the Constitution.

Reflecting on Hegde’s political career as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Uttar Kannada, Somanna remarked that the constituency had not witnessed significant development during his six-term tenure. Somanna criticized Hegde for primarily focusing on issues related to Hindutva and advocating for changes to the Constitution rather than actively engaging in developmental initiatives.

“Despite serving as an MP for approximately 28 years, Anantkumar Hegde’s tenure did not yield notable developmental outcomes for the constituency,” Somanna asserted. He further highlighted Hegde’s conspicuous absence from public engagements following his victory in the 2019 elections and his lack of involvement in party organization activities.

Somanna underscored that Hegde’s controversial remarks regarding the alteration of the Constitution had repeatedly caused embarrassment to the BJP. These collective factors, according to Somanna, led to the party’s decision to withhold the ticket from Hegde for the upcoming elections.

Mysuru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, addressing reporters at Mandakalli Airport in the city on Sunday, expressed optimism about the Congress party’s prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, foreseeing a victory in at least 20 seats.

While refraining from echoing the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) claim of a clean sweep across all 28 seats, Siddaramaiah asserted the Congress’s confidence in securing a minimum of 20 seats. He underscored the party’s strategic approach amidst the BJP-JD(S) alliance dynamics in the state.

Commenting on the alliance, Siddaramaiah suggested that it had inadvertently favored the Congress, though he declined to elaborate further, citing the need for discretion on certain matters.

Criticizing the BJP’s performance, Siddaramaiah questioned the fulfillment of the party’s electoral promises, highlighting unmet pledges such as the distribution of Rs 15 lakh to each family and the creation of two crore jobs. He accused the BJP of propagating hollow assurances and misleading the public.

Responding to queries about ticket allocations to ministers’ children, Siddaramaiah clarified that such decisions were made considering public sentiment and trust in the candidates. He emphasized that the Congress remained committed to meritocracy and denied engaging in dynastic politics.

Addressing remarks by MLA and former Congress minister SR Srinivas regarding his potential resignation, Siddaramaiah dismissed any suggestion of stepping down in case of an electoral setback. He clarified that Srinivas had expressed support for Siddaramaiah’s leadership, citing his contributions to guarantee schemes and welfare initiatives for the underprivileged.

Parmesh S Jain special correspondent

Continuing investigations into Rameshwaram cafe blast case,the National Investigation Agency (NIA)trailing the accused who reportedly travelled in a bus to Tumakuru, Ballari to Bhatkal. 
Several teams dispatched to different directions to track the accused and gathering more CCTV footage where the accused movement was recorded .

The officials also questioning few people along the way to get more details about the suspect.The suspect said to have changed the attire and avoiding CCTV cameras to conceal his identity . 
He is also trying to misguide the probe teams,a police officer part of the investigations, said .
Meanwhile Home Minister G.Parameshwar speaking to the media updated that seven teams have been formed and dispatched to different directions to follow the leads .

Parmesh S Jain Special correspondent

Youth Stabbed to death by armed men over trivial row during a program at temple in Bytarayanapura 
A 23-year-old youth was stabbed to death by an armed men over a trivial row during a program at a temple in Byatarayanapura police station limits on Friday. 
The deceased Yogesh,working at a car wash centre , was dancing in front of the temple during the Shivaratri program and accidentally brushed against another group who were also dancing in front of the temple. 
Heated argument ensued between them but other intervened and pacified the duo.
Enraged by this the accused followed Yogesh while he was returning home and stabbed him repeatedly . 
Yogesh tried to escape and jumped the compound and got hurt with the broken glass pieces put up on the compound wall and severely injured.He was rushed to a private hospital where he succumbed .
Initially the police thought that Yogesh tried to jump over the compound and got hurt from the glass pieces , but after verification of the CCTV footage from in and around, the police concluded that it was a planned murder.
Based on the information,the Bytarayanapura police have registered a case of murder and picked up four suspect as part of the investigations for questioning.
Rowdy-sheeter hacked to death by his rival gang in cottonpet 
In another incident,a 30-year-old Rowdy-Sheeter was hacked to death allegedly by his rival gang in Anjinappa garden in cottonpet on Friday afternoon.
The deceased Shiva alias Varthe having multiple criminal cases against him was operating in and around KR Market and cottonpete area.
The accused used to have tussle with his arch rival gangs and would use to compete with each other to dominate the area .
On Friday armed gang attacked Shiva while he was walking in Anjinappa garden and fled the scene.The injured Shiva was rushed to hospital where he succumbed later.The Cottopete police have registered a case of murder and efforts are on to track down the accused.
Farmer stabbed his wife to death suspecting her fidelity accused arrested by Patapalya police station 
In the third incident,a 55-year-old farmer stabbed his 45-year-old wife to death suspecting her fidelity in Chinaganapalli village in Patapalya police station limits in Chikkaballapura on Friday.
The deceased has been identified as Narasamma,living with husband Gangulappa. The accused used to suspect wife cheating on him and they duo used to have frequent fights.
On Friday,Gangulappa called his wife to help cut the grass in the backyard of the house after a heated argument and stabbed her to death before fleeing the spot .
The incident came to light on Saturday morning,when Villagers noticed Nasaramma lying in a pool of blood and alerted the police .
The Police rushed to the spot and later arrested Gangulappa who tried to feign ignorance about the murder and later confessed to the crime .

Bengaluru: The City Civil and Sessions Court has dismissed the petition filed by CM Ibrahim, challenging his expulsion from the post of JDS party president and the appointment of former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy as the new state president.

Ibrahim had contested his removal, arguing that HD Deve Gowda, the party’s national president, had ousted him from the state president’s post in violation of the party’s rules. He was expelled from the JDS party for alleged anti-party activities by Deve Gowda.

Parmesh S Jain special correspondent

An Astro Turf Hockey Stadium was inaugurated at Air Force Station Jalahalli on 07 Mar 2024 by Air Marshal R Radhish,Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief,Training Command,Indian Air Force in the presence of other dignitaries. 
The stadium is named after Wing Commander Amit Singh Bakshi,a member of Indian Hockey Team which won Gold Medal in 1956 Summer Olympic Games at Melbourne.
Later,as part of this inauguration ceremony,a friendly match was played between teams of Training Command and Sports Authority of India (Bengaluru Region).The chief guest interacted with players and other officials after the inaugural match.
Air Force Station Jalahalli,designated as Sports Nodal Center of Indian Air Force,houses a variety of excellent sports infrastructure at its campus,that includes an international standard synthetic track for athletics,a swimming pool,and a multipurpose stadium. 
Provisioning of a fully operational Astro Turf hockey stadium has significantly enhanced the existing sports facilities for the personnel.

Parmesh S Jain special correspondent

A few incidents of pelting stones at Vande Bharat trains in a few sections over South Western Railway have been reported recently between Chalgeri – Kumarapatnam Siding and near Chikkabanavara, Kuppam and Dharmavaram Railway Stations. 
A case has been registered on unknown person. Railway Protection Force and GRP personnel are keeping a vigil in such areas. 
Pelting stones on trains is a criminal offence under sections 153 & 154 prescribed in Railway Act.Any person, if does any unlawful act or by any wilful omission or neglect, endangers or causes to be endangered the safety of any person travelling on or being upon any railway,or obstructs or causes to be obstructed or attempts to obstruct any rolling stock upon any railway,he/she shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years under the section-153 of Railway Act 1989.

Person who in a rash and negligent manner does any act, or omits to do what he is legally bound to do,and the act or omission is likely to endanger the safety of any person travelling or being upon any railway,he/she shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both under the section-154 of Railway Act 1989.]
Apart from stepping up vigil, awareness drives are being organized by RPF at the locations of such incidents as well as in neighboring areas covering schools, villages etc.So that the miscreants desist from acts which endanger safety of train operations.
General Manager,Arvind Srivastava has appealed to the general public and passengers to inform us on the toll-free helpline number (139) if they come across incidents such as trespassing and stone pelting. Railway property is public property and protection of public property is everybody’s responsibility.Says Dr. Manjunath Kanamadi,Chief Public Relations Officer      South Western Railway, Hubballi.

Parmesh S Jain special correspondent

Bengaluru Division of South Western Railway (SWR) celebrated International Women’s Day by running an all-women crew working Rajya Rani Express train.  
It comprised of Loco Pilot,Assistant Loco Pilot,Train Manager,Ticket Checking Staff and Security Personnel were on duty to Bengaluru-Mysuru to underscore the commitment of the Railways to create a gender equal workforce to achieve all round development of the organization. 
Arvind Srivastava,General Manager/SWR flagged off the Train No.20660 Bengaluru–Mysuru Rajya Rani Express.  
Earlier,Arvind Srivastava,Smt.Namita Srivastava /President South Western Railway Women Welfare Organization (SWRWWO),Yogesh Mohan,Divisional Railway Manager and Smt.Shikha Agrawal,SWRWWO/Bangalore President felicitated the women crew, who operate the train,at the KSR Bengaluru City Railway Station. 
The train was operated by Sireesha Gajani/Loco Pilot, Sona G./Assistant Loco Pilot and Smt.Priyadharshini /Train Manager.  

Other onboard women staff were;Smt.Indrani/ Senior Section Engineer Carriage & Wagon,Smt.C.S.Bharathi/Chief Ticket Inspector,Smt.Sagaya Mary/Chief Ticket Inspector,Smt.Shameem Unisa Begum M./Chief Ticket Inspector,Smt.Anila Zacharias/ Deputy Chief Ticket Inspector,Smt.Sona/ V J.Deputy Chief Ticket Inspector, Smt.Uma P.S./Deputy Chief Ticket Inspector,Smt. Kashish Singh/Commercial Cum Ticket Checking and Women constables of Railway Protection Force (RPF) Smt.Ranjini & Smt.Srija P.T. 
Honouring this momentous occasion,esteemed guests, dignitaries, officers,and staff of Bengaluru division were present to witness the event.

Bengaluru : The Karnataka High Court has overturned a single bench order that had halted the state government’s plans to conduct board exams for students of classes 5, 8, 9, and 11 in schools affiliated with the State Board.

A division bench comprising Justice K Somashekhar and Justice Rajesh Rai K allowed the state’s appeal and directed the government to conduct the remaining assessments for classes 5, 8, and 9. The board exams for Class 11 had already been completed during the litigation. The court has also instructed the state to consult stakeholders before notifying assessments for upcoming years.

Earlier, the Karnataka government had issued two notifications on October 6 and October 9, 2023, appointing the Karnataka School Examination & Assessment Board (KSEAB) as the competent authority to conduct the “Summative Assessment-2” exams. However, these notifications were challenged, leading to a single judge quashing them. The Division Bench stayed the Single Judge’s judgment, and subsequently, organizations of private schools and parents filed special leave petitions before the Supreme Court, which put a hold on the exams by setting aside the interim order.

In the appeal, the state government argued that board exams were in the students’ interest and that not conducting them would necessitate schools to devise their own exams, potentially lowering standards. The Additional Advocate General, Vikram Huilgol, representing the State, argued that the notifications quashed by the single judge merely designated KSEAB as the competent authority to conduct the exams, and the Government Order dated November 16, 2023, actually declared the intent to hold board exams for classes 5th, 8th, 9th, and annual examinations for class 11th for the subject academic year.

The court’s decision emphasizes the importance of following due procedure and consulting stakeholders in matters affecting education policy and assessments.