Bengaluru: Karnataka on Wednesday reported 82 fresh COVID-19 cases taking the cumulative tally in the state to 40,68,193, the health department said.

There were no COVID-19 fatalities and the death toll due to the virus remained the same at 40,242.

Also, 271 people were discharged, taking the total number of recoveries to 40,25,944, according to a health bulletin. The active cases count stood at 1,953, the bulletin said.

Bengaluru Urban district accounted for the maximum number of 57 cases. Other districts too reported fresh infections.

According to the COVID-19 bulletin issued by the department, 20 districts reported zero infections and zero fatalities.

A total of 4,367 samples were tested in the state including 2,507 using RT-PCR methods, taking the cumulative number of specimens examined across the state to 6.94 crore.

The number of COVID vaccinations administered in the state rose to more than 12 crore, with 372 people being inoculated on Wednesday, it said.

Mangaluru: Local police on Wednesday clarified that the four members of a family who were hospitalized in the city earlier in the afternoon had not attempted suicide but it was a case of food poisoning.

Earlier, reports had suggested four members of a family had attempted suicide and were hospitalized.

Police however, clarified that the victims have claimed that they had not attempted suicide but fell sick after eating food and it was a case of food poisoning. Police also said that a proper medical bulletin from the hospital would give clear picture of the matter and added that they were waiting for it.

Ramanagara: The seer of Kunchagal Bande Mutt here, who was found hanging on Monday morning, allegedly killed himself over “blackmail”, police said.

Police have found a couple of pages of a purported death note by the seer in which he is said to have blamed some people of “harassing and blackmailing” him.

Sri Basavalingeshwara Swami, the head of the Math in Kempupura of Magadi taluk here, which has a history of more than 400 years, was found hanging from a window grill of the puja house at the math’s premises.

The seer, who had taken over the reins of the math in 1997, had celebrated the silver jubilee as the chief priest, a few months ago.

According to sources, alarmed at the puja house door remaining shut till six in the morning, which was unusual as the seer used to be awake by 4 AM for puja and kept the doors open, and him not responding to knocks or phone calls, mutt’s staff checked from the rear and found him hanging. They subsequently informed the police.

Police said they have registered a case of abetment to suicide and investigation is on.

According to police sources, a couple of pages of death note was found in which he has accused some people of harassing and blackmailing him by assassinating his character and has even named them.

Police, however, refused to divulge details and names citing that the investigations are on.

Officials said they will be questioning those named and those who were in close contact with the seer at the mutt and over phone.
The seer’s last rites were performed on Monday evening, after completing due procedures and post-mortem.

In December last year, the head of Chilume Mutt, Basavalinga Swamy, was also found hanging in a similar fashion. He reportedly had died upset over his deteriorating health, and was said to be depressed.

Mangaluru: A 13-year-old boy riding pillion on a two-wheeler in the city died on the spot when a bus collided with the vehicle and ran over the boy on Monday.

The victim of the road accident has been identified as Dhanu, a resident of Neermarga. The rider, a relative of Dhanu, is said to be out of danger.

The boy and his relative were going on the scooter in Mangaluru. When the duo reached Lalbagh, a private bus hit their two-wheeler from behind.

Both the rider and the pillion rider were thrown off the vehicle and fell beside the road. The bus then ran over the leg of Dhanu, who died on the spot, said the police sources.

Mangaluru Traffic Police have registered a case and are investigating.

BALLARI: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who has been leading the Bharat Jodo Yatra for the last one month, took a break from the yatra on Monday and cast his vote in the AICC presidential election from a make-shift polling booth in a container at Sanganakallu village on the outskirts of Ballari city.  Several Congress MPs, including DK Suresh, cast their votes at the same booth.

Accepting the invitation of families who are into denim manufacturing in Ballari, the Wayanad MP visited the residence of one Hyder Ali who owns a small jeans-making unit at Cowl Bazaar in Ballari. The Ballari jeans industry has its own history in the country having employed thousands of people. Rahul had heard a lot about the industry during his interaction with weavers in Moka village. Earlier, Rahul visited Hazrat Irshad Ali Dargah in Cowl Bazaar. Traffic was hit in central Ballari because of his visit.

“It is the most memorable day for us. During our interaction with Rahul, we had invited him to visit our unit. We are facing a lot of difficulties after the Covid pandemic and GST implementation. He listened to us. Rahul said he would help the sector in Ballari to get back to its good old days. Nearly 200 denim-manufacturing units have shut shop in Ballari in the last two years alone,” Hyder Ali said.

Later in the day, Rahul took to social media condemning the Union government for imposing GST on small units. “I visited a few small units operated by women. They said the machines have to be rented without any help from the government which is an additional burden. Many medium and small trades have been destroyed due to wrong GST. We are raising the voice of every class in Bharat Jodo Yatra. This journey will raise the voice of the rights of businessmen,” he said.

Chitradurga: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said he doesn’t agree with “rampant privatisation” of government assets and that the party would not allow the privatisation of public sector units (PSUs) if and when voted to power.

The former AICC president said his party upon coming to power would put in a strategy both at the national- and State-levels, which would ensure jobs for youngsters.

“I don’t agree with the rampant privatisation of government assets and if we are in power we will not allow the rampant privatisation of public sector units,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Interacting with around 1,800 youth from all over Karnataka on unemployment, as part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by him, he said it is public sector units that can give employment to the weaker sections.

“Public sector units that are given the right space and right environment to operate in, that are given the freedom to operate properly, do perfectly well,” he added.

AICC general secretary in-charge (Communications) Jairam Ramesh, general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, State Congress president D K Shivakumar among others were present at the interaction.

Stating that there has to be a strategy for job creation, Rahul Gandhi said, “Jobs don’t just get created like that, we will put in a strategy both at the national- and State-levels which will ensure that millions of youngsters get jobs.”

At the first place jobs can come in by filling vacancies in the government sector, and that is something his party is absolutely committed to, he said, “so the first place from where the large number of jobs can come from is healthcare and the education sector. The Congress government is going to spend much more money on public health and public education and these will be government jobs.”

Further noting that the largest number of private sector jobs in the country come from small and medium businesses, and small traders, the Member of Parliament said his party when in power would have a much more balanced policy and support small and medium businesses, and give them access to finance from the banks.

“We will also create special financial instruments to help young entrepreneurs to build their own businesses, and, of course, as I’m speaking in Karnataka, it goes without saying that we will also look at outsourcing and IT and connecting India with the rest of the world and creating more of those types of jobs here,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi also asserted that a society that is not harmonious, not at peace and that is violent, cannot grow economically or give jobs to its youngsters and have a future.

BENGALURU: Congress shed its lethargy and erupted in protest across many districts all over the state after party leader Siddaramaiah was attacked with eggs by BJP protesters in Kodagu on Thursday.-ADVERTISEMENT-Ads by 

While BJP leaders KG Bopaiah and Renukacharya tried to wriggle out of the situation, saying it was not BJP workers who protested, KPCC president DK Shivakumar slammed them, saying, “The other name for BJP is lies. They don’t have the courage to tell the truth. If you have done it own up.’’

Congress Campaign committee president MB Patil, Council Opposition Leader BK Hariprasad, working presidents — Ramalinga Reddy, Saleem Ahmed and Druvanarayan — and every other Congress leader criticised BJP.

Druvanarayan in Mysuru said, “Home Minister Araga Jnanendra has to resign. Siddaramaiah is a mass leader so he is being targeted. What was the government doing? This is definitely state sponsored.’’
Congress is planning to lay siege to the deputy commissioner’s office in Madikeri on August 26 and hold a massive protest across Kodagu. The district, where both MLAs are from BJP, is a saffron party bastion like Dakshina Kannada.

While Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai condemned the attack, an unconvinced Siddaramaiah alleged that the police were in cahoots with BJP attackers and were indifferent and inactive during the attack. “The police are with the protesters. We will take out a Madikeri Chalo rally against police inaction. The attack was sponsored by BJP and it was an act of cowardice. They have done this when I was there to assess rain-related damage in the district. The government has not provided relief to rain-hit Madikeri,’’ he said. On VD Savarkar, he said, “What freedom fighter is he … He wrote multiple petitions to the British seeking mercy.’’

In Chamarajanagar, Congress leader Puttaranga Shetty said, “Can’t we also do it to shame BJP leaders who come here?’’ In Koppal, Raghavendra Hitnal said, “We can throw stones at BJP.” In Mysuru, BJP leader Thotadapppa Basavraj, who contested against Siddaramaiah, filed a police complaint against the Congress leader, saying his statement that “Congress workers too know how to throw eggs” was provocative. The police registered the case.

Tension prevailed in the communally-sensitive Shivamogga city, with one person being stabbed, marring the 75th Independence Day celebrations on Monday. A controversy erupted over flexes of VD Savarkar and Tipu Sultan placed at Amir Ahmed Circle. While the police attempted to disperse two groups from a confrontation, a 20-year-old youth was stabbed in another area of the city

It all began when a group tried to put up a flex of Savarkar at Amir Ahmed Circle without getting permission from the authorities concerned. An argument ensued with the police when they did not allow the flex to be put up at the circle. The group then tried to forcibly place the flex in the circle.

Later, police personnel along with the Shivamogga City Corporation managed to remove the flex. Meanwhile, in response, another crowd gathered and approached the circle insisting on putting up a flex of Tipu Sultan. The police did not allow that either. The police resorted to a mild lathi charge when the group came close to the circle.

The first group staged a dharna demanding permission to put up Savarkar’s flex. Both the groups were dispersed and the police placed a national flag at the circle. However, while the police were controlling the mob at the circle, a youth identified as Prem Singh was stabbed at Gandhi Bazaar. He was attacked when he was returning after shutting a cloth shop he was working in. He was shifted to McGann Hospital for treatment.

The District Administration imposed Section 144 of CrPC in the city to maintain peace. Prohibitory orders were also issued at Bhadravathi town, which is also considered a communally-sensitive area. Meanwhile, two people have been arrested for the stabbing. The accused are identified as Nadeem (25) and Abdul Rahman (25). 

Schools to remain shut in S’mogga today

Schools and colleges will remain closed in Shivamogga and Bhadravathi urban areas on Tuesday. The Shivamogga district Superintendent of Police B M Laxmi Prasad and other senior officers monitored the situation.

“We are requesting the public not to move around unnecessarily. Any violations of the curfew order will be seriously dealt with. We are continuing to monitor the situation. No arrests have been made yet. We are trying to identify the accused,” the SP said. Additional police forces were brought from neighbouring districts to control the situation. Earlier, on Saturday, a verbal duel took place over placing Savarkar’s
portrait alongside those of several other freedom fighters at a shopping mall in Shivamogga city. A group forced the mall staff to remove the portrait. Later, BJP protested and a case was registered against the accused.

MANGALURU: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has launched a probe into the murder of BJP worker Praveen Nettaru. A team of NIA officials have arrived in Dakshina Kannada and have been gathering information regarding the murder. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai confirmed the same. Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru, he said the process to hand over the investigation to the NIA is on and soon the case would be handed over to them. However, he said the NIA has already been intimated informally and they are engaged in gathering preliminary information in Mangaluru and Kerala. The CM said that he would be visiting the families of Masood and Mohammed Fazil too in the coming days.

On BJP MLA Bharath Shetty threatening to protest in front of the Police Commissioner’s office if innocents are arrested in Fazil’s murder case, Sood asked how can one say that they are innocents. “We will arrest the suspects and if they are innocent, then they will be left out from the charge sheet,” he said.

Further, he appealed the public and politicians to join hands with the police and share any information they have about the murders. “There will be someone who will have some information. If they share the same, it will help detect the crime. If not, it means they are part of the crime,” he said.

NOT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST ANYONE: CM
davanagere: “BJP is a national party and treats everyone equally. We have not discriminated against anyone and allegations against us are baseless,” said CM Basavaraj Bommai, commenting on BJP’s Yuva Morcha workers resigning en masse. In the city to attend a Bhovi community programme, he said, “Leaders of previous regimes should introspect on their conduct and then comment on such issues.”  He said that protests by party workers have subsided as a sense of confidence is building among them with the investigation progressing in the right direction.

Kodagu: In light of the alleged armed training camp held at Kodagu by certain fringe right wing organisations which were circulating on social media platforms, Kodagu SP M A Aiyappa on Monday said that arms were not used during the training and justified that it was an annual camp organised by VHP and Bajrang Dal with the consent of the school authority.

“No armed training was held. It was an annual camp by VHP and Bajrang Dal for their youth workers. They have consented to the school authorities in advance. However, it has come to our knowledge through social media posts that air guns were used during the training camp. The district police are investigating in this regard,” he said.

Further, he said, “according to the regulations of the Arms Act and Arms Rules, one does not require special permission for the purchase and use of air guns. We will provide additional information in this regard after a detailed investigation.”

However, he clarified that no complaint in this regard has been registered so far while confirming that the current investigations are carried out based on social media posts alleging use of arms at the camp.