Regional

Minor girl in Karnataka lodges complaint against father for forced marriage

The complaint also named her husband.

The police have arrested the husband and launched a hunt for the father who has disappeared after the lodging of a police complaint. According to police, the 16-year-old victim hailed from Hyderabad.

As per the complainant, her father Sreenu had taken her to his mother's place in Karnataka's Kalaburgi district on June 13. He took her to the village temple the next day and got her married to Shivasharanappa.

The girl claimed that she was forced to get married even as she flatly refused the proposal. And the man, knowing well that she is a minor, got married to her.

On June 15, Shivasharanappa brought her to Bengaluru and locked her up in the house in Bellandur. He tried to force her for physical intimacy but she managed to ward him off by stiff resistance.

On July 12, the girl had called 112 emergency helpline and complained about her plight. The police rushed to the spot and she was rescued and taken to the police station.

Police have slapped the cases against her father and husband under the provisions of Sections 9 and 12 of the Child Marriage Prohibition Act and Section 12 of the Pocso Act as well as Section 34 of IPC.

The husband has been sent to judicial custody and further investigation is on.

--IANS

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BJP leader goes missing in Hyderabad

M. Tirupathi Reddy, a local leader of BJP in Alwal area on the city outskirts, was not seen since Thursday afternoon.

He is suspected to have been kidnapped by unidentified persons.

A resident of Kushaiguda, he had gone to the Tahsildar office for land related work. His mobile phone was also switched off since Thursday afternoon

The family members of the BJP leader alleged involvement by local MLA and his his henchmen. His wife Sujatha alleged that they were under extreme pressure to sell their land at Alwal at a low price.

She said that politicians who have lands abutting their property were pressuring them to sell it.

She was worried about his safety. Sujatha claimed that her husband was tense and worried for the last few days.

He had told her that he was facing threats to part with the land.

He also voiced apprehension that if he refused to sell the land, he might be harmed.

On a complaint by Sujatha, police registered a case and launched an investigation.

He was reportedly last spotted at Gachibowli, where he was seen getting off from an auto rickshaw.

A police officer said that they have no clue which indicates that he was kidnapped.

--IANS

ms/ksk

B’luru road rage case: 3 arrested, ‘no place for hooliganism’, say cops

“A FIR has been registered on the complaint of the victim. Investigation is underway. There will be no room for such hooliganism under our watch, and will be met with severe consequences,” the Bengaluru police stated.

The incident had taken place in the limits of Varthur police station on Thursday noon. Citizens Movement, East Bengaluru organization had raised the issue with the police and stated, don’t ignore this incident by leveling it as traffic violations! The goons followed the vehicle till the society and broke the glass and hit the owner.

What is happening in Bengaluru? DGP are you on vacation? It also stated that what is happening in IT heart of Bengaluru? Goons on bikes manhandling IT workforce in broad day light. This is total lawlessness. DyCM D.K. Shivakumar sir, you can't build brand Bengaluru with this, it said.

The further investigation is taken up. The accused were moving on three bikes haphazardly on road. The victim had honked at them to clear the obstruction. The accused had tailed the vehicle and broken the window glass and attacked the driver.

They had also later chased the vehicle till the apartment and attacked him yet again. The incident had raised concern among the public.

--IANS

mka/dan

BJP’s downfall has begun from K’taka, PM Modi’s influence waning: CM Siddaramaiah

He was making comments during the debate in the council over the speech of the Governor.

He further stated that the BJP party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are becoming unpopular among the people of the country.

"PM Modi came to Karnataka 28 times during the Assembly elections. No PM in history has done this. Their first priority was to run the country. They did not waste time campaigning for elections," he attacked.

"The Congress has won with a thumping majority in the constituencies where PM Modi took out the roadshows. The party had also won in the surrounding areas. You (BJP) come to terms that the influence of PM Modi is coming down and don't depend on PM Modi in future," he chided.

"The Congress party with an intention to save money of the people has announced free guarantee schemes. It is the ideology of the Congress that if the money is saved in the pockets of the middle class and poor people, the economy will grow. The BJP had to suffer a humiliating defeat as they have the mindset of snatching the money from the people, Siddaramaiah stated.

"Kannada poet Pampa discorded caste and discrimination 2000 years ago. The foundation of tolerance was laid in the state long back. But Hitler, who claimed that he is superior. is a fundamental and communal person," Siddaramaiah opined.

The BJP members objected to him and Siddaramaiah asked: "why are they getting angry if he scolded Hitler?"

--IANS

mka/dpb

B’luru records 178 dengue cases in 11 days

According to sources in health department, 3,565 persons have developed symptoms of dengue and blood samples of 1,009 people have been sent for examination in the limits of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

More than 900 cases of dengue are confirmed in Karnataka and Bengaluru so far has reported 919 cases.

However, there were no reports of any dengue casualties.

In 2022, 585 dengue cases were reported in BBMP.

Dr. Sheela Murali Chakravarthy, Director--Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru, told IANS: "Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so it is important to keep your surroundings clean. Most cases of dengue are complicated, but the disease is absolutely preventable and treatable."

"To protect yourself, keep your environment clean and do not allow small containers to collect water. This is where the mosquitoes that cause dengue breed. The treatment for dengue is simply rest and plenty of fluids. Very few people need to be hospitalised.

"However, if you experience severe fever and body pain, you should contact a doctor. Otherwise, keep your surroundings clean and stay healthy," she added.

--IANS

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K’taka CM asks ministers to visit rain-affected coastal region

A release from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) stated that the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Udupi have suffered heavy losses due to incessant rains.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah directed the officers to take up relief measures in the districts.

District in-charge ministers Dinesh Gundurao, Laxmi Hebbalkar and Mankal Vaidya have also been directed to take up spot visits in the rain-affected areas.

The CM had taken information from the Chief Secretary on the situation and gave directions for quick relief action.

Heavy rains in the coastal district of Dakshina Kannada have thrown life out of gear.

Several houses are damaged and two deaths have been reported in the last 48 hours. The authorities have provided Rs 5 lakh compensation to the families of the deceased persons.

The roof of a school building has collapsed due to heavy rains and speedy winds.

Authorities have declared a holiday for the schools and colleges on Thursday.

Sources explain that about 30 houses have collapsed and more than 200 electric polls have been uprooted in Dakshina Kannada district.

--IANS

mka/shb

Ahead of NCP National Executive meet in Delhi, poster war erupts dubbing Ajit Pawar as ‘gaddar’

The poster was put outside the NCP office here.

The poster featured the infamous ‘backstabbing’ scene from the movie, ‘Bahubali: The Beginning’.

Ahead of NCP founder Sharad Pawar’s arrival in Delhi on Thursday, posters featuring a scene from ‘Bahubali: The Beginning’, where Kattappa stabs Bahubali in the back, were put up with ‘Gaddar’ written on them.

Meanwhile, all the old posters and hoardings of NCP that showed Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel on them were removed from outside NCP office in Delhi.

The meeting in the national capital comes a day after NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar both held separate meetings in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Ajit Pawar had split the NCP and took oath as Deputy Chief Minister along with eight Ministers in the BJP-Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra.

In the meeting called by Ajit Pawar around 30 MLAs attended. The claims-counterclaims notwithstanding, senior leaders put the figures at 35 on Ajit Pawar side and 18 in Sharad Pawar’s camp, though the real picture has yet to emerge.

The NCP has 53 MLAs and Ajit Pawar would require the support of two-thirds - at least 36 legislators - without attracting the provisions of the anti-defection laws.

On Wednesday, the fight for the NCP name and symbol reached the Election Commission. Ajit Pawar's camp approached the poll panel claiming that they have the backing of a majority of the party's MLAs. The Ajit Pawar-led camp claimed the backing of 40 elected party officials (MLAs, MLCs, and MPs).

--IANS

aks/uk

Gujarat records over a third of average monsoon rain; Kutch leads with 87.44%

The total precipitation across the state has reached 302.45 mm, compared to the monsoon average of 877 mm.

Leading the monsoon performance, the Kutch region stands out with the highest proportion of rainfall compared to its monsoon average at a staggering 87.44 per cent.

The region has witnessed a total of 405.30 mm of rain thus far.

Anjar and Mundra talukas, both located in Kutch, have the unique distinction of being the only two talukas to have received 100 per cent of their average rainfall.

Specifically, Anjar already exceeded its average with a notable 171.31 (881 mm) of rain, while Mundra recorded 105.89 per cent (560 mm).

Meanwhile, Saurashtra has achieved 50.34 per cent, North Gujarat 31.14 per cent, South Gujarat 27.09 per cent, and East Central Gujarat 24.36 per cent.

In terms of total precipitation this season, Valsad district in South Gujarat holds the record with 764 mm of rainfall.

Junagadh in the Saurashtra region follows with 687 mm, and Navsari in South Gujarat trails with 622 mm.

Over the last 24 hours, Khambhat taluka in Anand district experienced the highest rainfall, receiving 124 mm.

Of Gujarat's 251 talukas, 173 reported rainfall on Wednesday.

--IANS

janvi/shb

Tamil woman urges govt to bring murdered husband’s body from Germany

In her petition, 23-year-old P. Divya stated that her husband was murdered in Germany by a co-worker also hailing from Tamil Nadu last week.

The woman said that she got to know about her husband's death from other Tamil workers.

She said that later, the officials from the Indian embassy in Germany had called her and taken the details of Prakash Panneerselvam.

Her husband was working as a welder in the middle east and was lured by another person to take up a job in Hungary as a welder on a higher package, Divya said.

Prakash had paid an amount of Rs 2.5 lakh rupees for the Visa and flight tickets to Hungary and reached the European country in March 2022, the petition said.

On reaching Hungary, her husband found that his job was not as a welder but a cable layer.

While working in the Hungarian company, a group of Germans who were working in the same company took some Indians, including her husband, to Germany in April 2023.

She also said that her husband had not received any salary for the past few months.

Divya has sought the Tamil Nadu government's help in bringing back the body to India and to help get the pending salary released.

--IANS

aal/shb


Pen drive secret will cost a K’taka minister his job, says Kumaraswamy

Speaking to reporters here, Kumaraswamy said that he will talk about the secret of pen drive at an appropriate time.

"Let the ministers and CM Siddaramaiah come out with all kinds of jibes and ridicules against me. I will release it at a suitable time," he maintained.

Kumaraswamy, while displaying the pen drive at Vidhana Soudha, claimed on Wednesday that the gadget contained the conversation of a minister over transfer of an official. The conversation claims that Rs 10 crore was taken as a bribe for the transfer and the revenue of the official who got transferred per day is Rs 50 lakh, Kumaraswamy stated.

"The government and everyone are talking about what is there in the pen drive. Some are claiming it as a hit and run statement. Let them say whatever they want to, documents would be released at an appropriate time," he said.

Kumaraswamy visited the driver of the Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Jagadish, who consumed poison after allegedly being transferred out of political vengeance by the Minister of Agriculture Cheluvarayaswamy.

The victim had written a death note and officers are claiming that there was pressure from the minister behind his transfer.

"The minister Cheluvarayaswamy should be dropped from the ministry and an inquiry has to be conducted. I will take up this matter in the Assembly session," he said.

"It is not even one month after assuming power, the ruling Congress government is mired in corruption. The Congress leaders are sharing their woes with me. The appointment and cancellation orders are issued many times for the same post which indicates corruption. Without money nothing is moving and everything is being done with the knowledge of CM Siddaramaiah," he alleged.

All major posts are being sold, he added. When asked about the probe against him over the accumulation of property, Kumaraswamy stated that the ruling Congress government can get the investigation done through any international investigating agency.

--IANS

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