New Delhi: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Wednesday jointly inaugurated three centres of excellence (CoE) established in Karnataka under the Indo-Israel Agriculture Project.

After the virtual inauguration, Tomar said, “These centres will help the farming community of Karnataka to get access to the latest innovative Israeli technologies and adopt them to increase production and productivity that will help in increasing the farmers’ income.”

These CoEs have the capacity of 50,000 grafts production and 25 lakh vegetables seedlings production annually. About 20,000 farmers have visited these CoEs to gain knowledge about the modern cultivation practices in horticulture, an official statement quoted him as saying during the event.

Under a bilateral cooperation, India and Israel have about 29 operational CoEs that have been set up across India in 12 states, implementing advanced Israeli Agro-Technology tailored to local conditions.

Out of these 29 fully functional CoEs, three are from Karnataka located in Kolar for mango, Bagalkot for pomegranate, and Dharwad for vegetables. These CoEs generate knowledge, demonstrate best practices and train officers and farmers.

The Karnataka chief minister thanked the Union government and Israel for providing financial and technical assistance for establishment of CoEs under the Indo-Israel Agriculture Project (IIAP) in Karnataka.

State Horticulture and Sericulture Minister R Shankar said there is a lot of scope for adoption of new technologies in crop production and post-harvest management, to increase the production and productivity of the horticulture produce in Karnataka.

And, Karnataka farmers are progressive to adopt innovative technologies developed by these centres, he added.

Ambassador of Israel to India Ron Malka said, “This is a milestone in the development of the state’s agriculture sector, and will give local farmers a competitive edge in the national and international market.”

This will also enable them to double their income, aligned with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said.

Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal and senior officers of Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Karnataka government were present in the event.

Pramesh Jain

In an effort to keep the noise pollution under check,DG&IGP,Praveen Sood has issued a circular this week asking top police officers to take action and prosecute individuals responsible for noise pollution under the Environment Protection Act.

The circular dated June 7 authorizes officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police and above to enforce noise pollution control measures under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act 1986.

They can take action against the persons who violates orders and to prosecute them under Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act 1986,the order said.

The order gain importance following series of PIL and petition to the High court and state government to curb the use of loud speakers especially in mosques.

There was an increase in noise levels in the State from various sources like construction and industrial activities,generator sets,loud speakers, public address systems,vehicular horns and other mechanical devices.

They have deleterious effects on human health and the psychological well being of the people. Thus it is necessary to regulate and control noise producing and generating sources.

The PCB which sought necessary directions from Praveen Sood,referred to an order issued by the Karnataka High Court on January 11 to a writ petition which has ordered action against those using sound amplifiers in violation of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000 says a official order .

Pramesh Jain

The Inquiry officer disciplinary authority of the city police after a detailed probe suspended Assistant Sub Inspector,GN,Dayanad after he was found taking Rs.15 lakh from two realtors promised to help them in a case pending against them and closing the case by filing B report.

The ASI,attached to Kodigehalli and deployed at the DCP Northeast office on an official duty also threatened Bharath Shetty and Vikram Prabhakar to foist cases against them if they failed to pay more.

The duo had already paid Rs 15 lakh in total and, unable to pay more,Bharath Shetty approached the city police commissioner office.

Based on the complaint,DCP,administration and inquiry officer disciplinary authority,conducted a probe and prima facie found that Dayanand is guilty of not only extorting money but also misusing his official position.

Based on the findings,DCP (administration) Nisha James,suspended Dayanand till further orders while further probe is on.

Pramesh Jain

As Bengaluru gears up for the unlock process, BBMP Chief Commissioner,Gaurav Gupta cautioned citizens on Monday that they need to be vigilant in the coming months.

He said that the ability of the public to stay focussed and disciplined will determine the success of the fight against the pandemic.

He was speaking at a virtual meeting on increasing Covid testing.

Gupta said that BBMP is intensifying Covid testing and step up containment and isolation measures.The fight against Covid-19 is a long one and everyone must embrace a safe lifestyle and get vaccinated,he said.

With lockdown restrictions in the city,many activities are being allowed now.With daily wage labourers returning to the city,tests should be conducted in railway stations,bus stands,check posts and toll booths on the outskirts,he said.

Tests should also be carried out in hostels, paying guest accommodations,factories and construction sites,he further said,adding that RWAs must be instructed to conduct tests on those coming from outside.

Over 40 lakh vaccinated in Bengaluru so far: BBMP:

According to the BBMP Chief Commissioner,so far 40,39,744 people have been vaccinated in Bengaluru.

People above 44 must be contacted through the helpline number (1912) and informed to get the second dose of vaccine.A door-to-door survey should be conducted and people should be encouraged to get vaccinated,he said.

Gupta also asked the chief health officer to make preparations to tackle the third wave of the pandemic and submit a proposal regarding the infrastructural upgrades required at the primary health centres and maternity hospitals.

Universities should focus on research to fight diseases: Dr K Sudhakar

More research should be undertaken in the field of Ayurveda to prevent outbreak of diseases,said Health and Medical Education Minister Dr.K Sudhakar.

Speaking on the occasion of the valedictory ceremony of silver jubilee celebrations of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) on Monday, Sudhakar said,Every medical college should focus more on research work.

Researchers from Oxford University developed a Covid vaccine. Similarly, RGUHS should encourage research to help fight diseases.

Discussion with Governor :

Regarding the appointment of Vice Chancellor the Minister said that the matter would have been discussed with the Hon’ble Governor,but due to Covid it could not be done.

I have written to the hon’ble governor regarding this. Will discuss this issue in personal after getting his appointment said Dr.Sudhakar. the matter is discussed with the Chief Minister and the suggestions given by CM will also be brought to the notice of Hon’ble governor,he added.

Won’t let appointment of any undeserving candidate as VC:

RGUHS is India’s largest and prestigious health sciences university. Our government is very clear that a person with eminence,excellent reputation and track record should be appointed as VC of this university.

Any person leading such an university should have a credibility that is behind doubt.No person with poor track record or allegations can occupy that chair,atleast as long as I am the minister, Dr.Sudhakar said.

Instructions have been passed to conduct random tests at Airports,Railway stations and Bus stands.

People should adhere to the guidelines. Permission is not given for malls,cinema theatres to open.

We will increase the testing as industries are permitted to operate with more number of people, said the Minister.

25 year old RGUHS is the largest Health University in the country with over 2 lakh students.

More than 25 lakh people have recovered from Covid in the state.1.70 crore doses of vaccine have been administered so far.Everyone will be vaccinated by this December end.

We are strengthening the pediatric department in all district hospitals to tackle third wave.1,763 medical officers have been recruited in record time.

Pramesh Jain

After almost one month the city has witnessed traffic jams at the major junctions while traffic cops struggling to manage the traffic on monday.

Hundreds of vehicles coming from the neighbouring districts were seen stuck in long queues at the entey and exit points of the city.

Huge Traffic Snarl also witnessed at major junctions of Central business District.

Heavy traffic jam was reported at Freedom Park, Seshadripuram,Malleswaram,Town Hall, Richmond Road and Kempe Gowda Road and in and around majestic,Mysore road.

People thronged to city market avenue road to buy groceries witnessed similar situation.

It was very difficult to manage the situation after 2 pm as hundreds of vehicle still plying on the road and started giving excuses,a police officer, said.Adding to the worst Autorickshaws and other vehicles contributed to traffic jams at the junctions.

Similar rush was witnessed again in the evening as many motorists were returning home from office and work place.

Meanwhile the Bengaluru city police has slow downed the enforcement as there was huge traffic and vehicle movement was seen after 2 pm also all the barricades were seen opened.

The Bengaluru city police seized Details of the vehicles seized for violation of #COVID19 guidelines,As of June 14: from 02 PM to 7 PM
2-Wheelers: 139,3-Wheelers:03,4-Wheelers.Total– 157 Vehicles seized and 12 cases booked under NDMA.

Karnataka on Monday reported 6,835 fresh cases and 120 deaths, taking the infection count to 27,71,969 and death toll to 33,033.

The state has 1,72,141 active cases whereas the total discharges stood at 25,66,774 with the recovery of 15,409 more people, the health department stated.The positivity rate for the day was 4.56 per cent and the case fatality rate was 1.75 per cent, the department said.

Pramesh Jain

Continuing investigations into the Illegal telephone exchange racket,officials of the Anti terrorist cell of the CCB on Monday busted nine more illegal exchanges operating in the Southeast Division of the city.

The accused have been identified as Mohammed Basheer,51,Anees Attimannil,30,from Malappuram,Santan Kumar,29,Suresh Jayavelu, 32,and Jai Ganesh,30 from Thoothukudi,of  Tamilnadu. 

Senior officer told reporters,the Bengaluru city police received a credible information about the telephone exchange being operated in city the Military intelligence wrote a letter to CID DGP,to track the number as the information was passed to CID DGP,PS Sandhu he immediately informed to Commissioner of police Kamal Pant to track the number.

Kamal Pant immediately passed the information to CCB Joint CP Crime,Sandeep Patil who immediately led a team of officials headed by ACP,Venugopal and team swung into action and tracked the number.

The team arrested two persons from BTM layout recently Based on the information provided by Ibrahim and others,the police raided the places in BTM Layout,Madiwala and Sudduguntepalya where the telephone exchanges are being operated.

The police also arrested five persons who are working for the kingpin Ibrahim Mullati,36, arrested earlier .

The CCB officials so far unearthed 15 illegal telephone exchanges operating in the Southeast Division alone .

The police seized 109 simboxes with 3000 SIM cards,23 laptops,14 UPS and 17 routers.

Investigations revealed that Santan is a sales executive of a mobile service provider company and sources 3000 SIM cards and sends them across to Basheer and Anees through Suresh and Jai Ganesh.

The accused are operating the telephone exchange for a few months and helping their customers at throw away prices converting international calls into local calls using the Simbox.

Such racket is not only incurring heavy loss to the state exchequer but also threat to the National security.

On June 9,the ATC cell in association with the military intelligence officials raided six places in  Byrasandra,Taverekere and Madiwala,arrested Ibrahim Pullatti,36 and his associate Goutham Vishawanathan,27 and recovered 30 SIM boxes  installed with 960 SIM cards to run the illegal telephone racket.

So far Bengaluru ATC cell arrests totally 7 people and seized 109 boxes,3000 SIM Cards based on Military intelligence.Accused used to route international calls to Army head quarters in Siliguri.Many Indian army officers were getting calls.NIA to join probe to find terror links.

Finally Chief Minister of Karnataka,BS Yediyurappa,Home Minister,Basavaraj Bommai,has appreciated,Director General and Inspector General of Police,Praveen Sood,Military intelligence unit team,CID,DGP,PS Sandhu and Bengaluru City Police Commissioner,Kamal Pant and his team as,Joint CP Crime,Sandeep Patil,DCP Crime-1,KP Ravikumar,ACPs,as,Venugopal,and other staff who has nabbed the notorious accused which at a time 3000 illegally procured SIMS can be used,important detection since this could be used for any illegal or subversive activities a timely action by the team has averted all their plans and a suitable reward will be given to the team for their excellent investigation in busting the racket he added.

Pramesh Jain

CCB arrest notorious Gun Runner & associates supplying weapons to Rowdy gangs in Bengaluru,3 weapons and 15 rounds of ammunition seized:

The Organised Crime wing of the CCB on Saturday arrested a 38 year old gun runner and two of his associates who were supplying countrymade weapons to the city based gangsters.The team has seized three country made pistols and 15 rounds of ammunition from them.

The accused has been identified as,Sunkari Satisha,alias,Market Satisha,38,resident of Kalburagi,and his associates,as,Shankar Krishnamurthy,30,resident of Yellachenahalli and Druva kumar N,32,resident of JP Nagar.

Senior officer told media persons,The gang was busted following the arrest of rowdy-sheeter K Rohith along with 10 of his associates near Muneshwara temple in Bagalagunte on April 8, while planning to attack his rival Kadubisenahalli Soma.

A detailed inquiry by the team who grilled Rohith led to the arrest of gun runner,Sunkari Satisha alias Market Satisha,38,from his hideout in Saidabad in Hyderabad and recovered three more pistols and 15 rounds of ammunition.

Based on his statement the team also arrested his associates,Shankar Krishnamurthy, 30 and Druva Kumar N, 32

The police recovered weapons including a country made pistol with 15 rounds of live ammunition from them.

A detailed investigation revealed that Satisha a notorious rowdy sheeter in Gulbarga and who was involved in several criminal cases in Karnataka and Hyderabad .

The accused told the police that he was sourcing the country made pistols from his contacts in Madhya Pradesh and selling them in Bengaluru to gangsters for a price ranging from Rs 80,000 to Rs 2 lakh .

Satish was earlier arrested by Police in Goonda Act and Kcoca Act and during his stay in prison  he came in contact with Rohith and sold the pistol for Rs 2 lakh .

The CCB found that Satish had sold the pistol and ammunition to many gangsters in the city and efforts are on to track them down a special team has been pressed into action to keep a eye on rowdy elements in the city.

A case has been registered in Bagalagunte police station under Arms and other sections and further investigation is on.

Finally Bengaluru Police Commissioner,Kamal Pant has appreciated Joint CP Crime,Sandeep Patil DCP Crime-2,BS Angadi,ACP,OCW, Dharmendra HN,PI,Girish Naik and Basavaraj A Teli,and other crime staff who were part of operation has been appreciated for the commendable job done by them and a suitable reward will be given to the team he added.

Pramesh Jain

The Puttenahalli police on Saturday arrested a 29-year-old man on the charges of assaulting a doctor at Fortis hospital on Bannerghatta road over trivial row.

The accused has been identified as,Jagadisha, a private firm employee and his mother Jayanthi resident of Kodichikkanahalli.

Senior officer,told media persons,the victim,Dr. Padmakumar was incharge of the ICU treating Dhanpal who recovered from Covid19 and suffering from Pneumonia at ICU and was on  ventilator.

While Dr.Padmakumar was counselling Jagadisha and his mother Jayanthi about the clinical condition of Dhanpal,the duo become aggressive started using filthy language  intimidating, threatening doctor and his team inside the ICU.

When Dr Padmakumar tried to pacify,Jagadish attacked and beat up the doctor,while Jayanthi joined him.

Dr.Padmakumar sustained injuries at scalp region.Sister,Mala who was on duty was also
attacked sustained injury over abdomen.The staff and security rescued the doctor Doctor Dr. Padmakumar and sister Mala .

Doctor was found to be be having scalp hematoma and was immediately rushed to neurosurgery department wherein after initial work up and treatment,MRI head was done which has fortunately revealed no major injury to brain.

Taking a serious note Hospital administrative officer Praveen Vali,filed a complaint with the police.

Based on complaint the Puttenahalli police arrested Jagadisha from his house Kodichikkanahalli and released on station bail .

Both the accused have been booked under several sections of Karnataka Prevention of violence against medicare service personnel and damage to property and also under section 323 (assault) of IPC and further investigation is on.

Pramesh Jain

The CCB officials on Friday arrested a 45-year-old Software engineer red handed while he was selling Posaconazole injections and tablets used for the treatment of black Fungus in black market.

The accused has been identified as,Rammohan T, resident of Kundanahalli.

Senior officer,told media persons,our CCB team received a credible information that a person is hoarding illegally injection vials and medicines used for Black Fungus treatment and selling it charging exorbitant price.

Based on a tip off, a team of officials raided a  place near ITI factory gate close to KR Puram Railway station and arrested Rammohan T,  resident of Kundalahalli .

The police have seized 17 injections and 80 tablets from him.

During investigation the accused confessed the crime and it was revealed that the  accused was offering to sell each vial for Rs.18,000 while the MRP of injection is Rs 8,500.

A detailed investigation revealed that the accused is presently unemployed and bought the medicine online from a city based pharma and started to circulate it on whatsapp offering black  fungus injection for Rs 18,000 per vial .

The CCB police contacted the accused and clicked a deal for the injections and trapped him while he was waiting for the customers to deliver the injection.

Sandeep Patil Joint commissioner of police,Crime,tweeted,After blackmarketing of Remdesivir & Oxygen cylinders..some indulging in hoarding & blackmarketing of injection reqd for BLACKFUNGUS treatment..CCB arrest accused..seize 17 injections & 80 tablets..selling at double the MRP he said by tweeting.

We have taken him into custody for further investigations he added.

Finally Bengaluru Police Commissioner,Kamal Pant has appreciated,Joint CP Crime,Sandeep Patil, DCP Crime-1,KP Ravikumar,and team for the commendable job done by them and a suitable reward will be given to the team he added.

The chronology of events is leading up to the much-anticipated Arun Singh’s visit to take stock of the situation in Karnataka.

BENGALURU: In the run-up to BJP General Secretary in-charge Arun Singh’s visit to Karnataka, starting from Wednesday, seers from the All-India Veerashaiva Lingayat Seer Forum issued a statement on Monday, backing BS Yediyurappa to complete his term as chief minister.

It was only last week that Bekkina Kal mutt seer Mallikarjun Murugharajendra Swami had batted for Yediyurappa.The seers have come out in strong support of the chief minister as murmurs of leadership change are gaining momentum in the wake of Singh’s visit. The rousing support from 17 seers comes after BJP state vice-president and Yediyurappa’s son BY Vijayendra’s serial meetings with seers from the Lingayat community last week.

Vijayendra met the seers after returning from his Delhi trip where he met BJP National President JP Nadda. The chronology of events is leading up to the much-anticipated Arun Singh’s visit to take stock of the situation in Karnataka. But legislators and office-bearers of the BJP state unit are not confident of Singh’s visit throwing up any concrete action. “The central leadership has given oral instructions that no group meetings will be encouraged. That means party members can approach Singh individually and convey their concerns. The exercise will be a mere eyewash and nothing more,” said a senior party legislator.

The decision is to avoid making any representation seem like a show of strength, whether for or against Yediyurappa, party sources said.Those convinced that Singh’s visit to Karnataka is a futile exercise are, however, putting together a list of complaints to be submitted to him as well as the Central leadership of the party, albeit in the following week. 

“We have a lot of complaints with the government and the chief minister’s way of functioning, but that is not to be discussed in public. Whatever the concerns, we will inform Arun Singh and hope they are addressed in time, failing which the next course of action will follow,” said another MLA.During his three-day visit starting from Wednesday, Singh is scheduled to meet Cabinet ministers and MLAs, and is expected to take part in the state BJP core committee meeting. Legislators are keen on a legislature party meeting and hope directives are issued to Yediyurappa.