Regional

Bengaluru, Nov 3 (IANS) The Dakshina Kannada district administration on Thursday started the process of attaching the property of the slaughterhouses in connection with illegal cow slaughtering.

C. Madana Mohan, Assistant Commissioner of Mangaluru Sub-Division and Sub divisional Magistrate issued an order for the attachment of properties for carrying out illegal cow slaughtering.

The four properties of slaughterhouses in Adyapaadi near Adkur, Bajal Pakaladka, Jalligudde and Kattapuni have been attached following the order.

Jurisdictional Kankanady police have been directed to get the valuation of properties and vehicles done from the concerned authorities and submit the approximate value of the property to the court.

The concerned Tehsildar was also given directions to record the process of attachment in the property documents. The action had been taken following the lodging of cases under the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2020.

The case was registered at Kankanady police station under column 8 (4) and 8 (5) for illegal cow slaughtering.

The controversial bill, popularly known as the Anti- Cow Slaughter Bill, was enacted by the ruling BJP government and prohibits illegal cow slaughtering. The Bill also prescribes stringent punishment for illegal transportation and slaughtering of cows in the state. Further investigation was on.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, Nov 3 (IANS) The Karnataka government on Thursday gave directions to the schools and pre university colleges in the state to ensure 10 minutes meditation session for students.

State Education Minister B.C. Nagesh said that necessary directions have been given with regard to conducting meditation session in schools and colleges for 10 minutes every day.

The step is taken to increase concentration, health, and good thoughts. It will also help students to beat stress and acquire knowledge freely in schools and pre-university colleges, the Minister said.

The meditation 'dhyan' session is being conducted at schools in many districts of the state. The requests have been made to allow meditation classes for 10 minutes in all schools and colleges, he stated.

It is appropriate to conduct meditation session for students regularly.

The school and college managements should fix a time and conduct meditation session for students, Minister Nagesh stated.

The move is likely to draw flak as progressive thinkers and minority organisations have been criticising the ruling BJP for "saffronisation of education".

--IANS
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Visakhapatnam, Nov 3 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh police on Thursday arrested senior TDP leader and former minister Ayyanna Patrudu on allegations of alleged encroachment and forgery.

Officials of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) arrested him from his residence in Narsipatnam town in Anakapalli district in the early hours of Thursday. His son Rajesh was also taken into custody. They were shifted to the CID office in Visakhapatnam.

Family members of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader said about 200 policemen reached the house around 3 a.m. Some of them scaled the wall to enter the house after pasting the arrest notice at the gate. There was tension as the TDP leader and his family members entered into an argument with the police officials and questioned their action of barging into the house

On learning about the arrest, a large number of TDP leaders and workers reached the party leader's house and lodged their protest. They raised slogans against the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government.

The TDP leaders questioned the police on treating the former minister and his son like thieves.

The former minister and his son were arrested on allegations of submitting a false document to the high court on demolition of his house by the municipal authorities in Narsipatnam.

The police had registered a case against them for forgery and encroachment under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Ayyanna Patrudu's wife Padmavati alleged that the policemen acted with highhandedness as they did not even allow him to change the clothes. She said the YSRCP government had been targeting the family for the last three years. She said that if something happens to her husband and son, the government would be responsible.

Meanwhile, anticipating protests by the TDP in Visakhapatnam, police took several party leaders into preventive custody. They included Visakhapatnam East MLA V.Ramakrishna Babu.

In June this year, the municipal authorities in Narsipatnam had demolished an alleged unauthorised boundary wall at the residence of the TDP leader.

Patrudu, a member of TDP politburo, is a bitter critic of Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. In February, he was booked for abusive and derogatory comments against the chief minister.

Last month, Patrudu's other son Vijay was booked by the CID for allegedly posting fake news against the chief minister's wife Y. S. Bharathi.

--IANS
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Hyderabad, Oct 30 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi continued his Bharat Jodo Yatra on the fifth day in Telangana on Sunday.

The Congress MP resumed the walkathon from Gollapalli of Jedcherla mandal in Mahabubnagar district.

Accompanied by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president A. Revanth Reddy, party MP and yatra coordinator for Telugu states Uttam Kumar Reddy, former minister K. Jana Reddy and other leaders and workers, he walked on Hyderabad-Bengaluru national highway.

Rahul interacted with different sections of people. There was excitement when he raced with a group of children. Revanth Reddy and other participants also followed the leader.

The Congress MP greeted people waiting on either side of the road. He also called a few youngsters and women waiting by the roadside and allowed them to take selfies with him.

Before resuming his yatra in the morning, Rahul Gandhi along with Jairam Ramesh and other leaders participated in 'Bathukamma' with some women at the camp.

The foot march halted at Balanagar junction for the mid-day break. It will resume in the evening and enter Rangareddy district. Rahul will address a corner meeting at Solipur near Shadnagar town.

Bharat Jodo Yatra had entered Telangana on October 23 from Karnataka. Following a three-day break for Diwali and swearing-in of new Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, it resumed on October 26.

The yatra will continue in Telangana till November 7 with one-day break on November 4.

Party leaders said Rahul Gandhi will walk 20-25 kms every day covering 375 kms in 19 Assembly and 7 Parliamentary constituencies in Telangana.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, Oct 30 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday ordered a probe in the death of Police Inspector Nandeesh, who died under suspicious circumstances in Bengaluru.

Nandeesh attached to K.R. Puram police station in Bengaluru had succumbed to heart attack on Thursday. Former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy from the JD(S) party had questioned the ruling BJP over the death, alleging that political pressure led him to get a heart attack.

Kumaraswamy questioned the circumstances leading to his medical condition. Deceased inspector's wife had alleged that the incident took place due to pressure on him.

CM Bommai stated that a direction would be given to the Director General and Inspector General of Police of the state and after getting all the relevant information regarding the case, investigation will be ordered. "There is no second thought as far as conducting investigation is concerned," he said.

Nadeesh was suspended for letting a pub operate in the jurisdiction of the K.R. Puram police station till early in the morning.

Kumaraswamy said, "The government itself had permitted restaurants to operate till 1 a.m. I am asking the government to find out for how long the pub remained open? Who was there? How many of them were supporters of a politician? There is also a report that says police officers were also dancing in that pub," he said.

"The officers who had given Rs 70 to Rs 80 lakh for postings in Bengaluru and got suspended, how would they recover their money? This is a murder by the ruling government. This case needs to be probed by a higher agency," Kumaraswamy demanded.

"The government is giving plum posts to IAS officers who were trapped in raids. Can one do anything as the party high command is backing them? The probe should be taken up to ascertain what is happening in Bengaluru city," he stated.

Kumaraswamy maintained that the deceased police inspector is the relative of an MLC. "If they had to undergo such circumstances, what about others who do not have such a background? Karnataka Home Minister must answer these questions," he said.

--IANS
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Hyderabad, Oct 30 (IANS) Telangana government has withdrawn the general consent to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate cases in the state.

The move is seen as an attempt by the KCR-led government to prevent any intervention by the Centre in MLAs poaching case.

The development came amid the political heat generated by the arrest of three alleged agents of BJP while trying to bribe four MLAs of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to make them defect to the BJP.

The BJP has been demanding that the investigation be handed over to the CBI in the 'MLAs poaching' case.

Though the Government Order (GO) was issued on August 30, it was kept confidential. It was made public on Saturday when the state government informed the Telangana High Court about the withdrawal of general consent to the CBI during hearing on a petition filed by the BJP seeking direction to transfer the investigation to the Central agency.

The High Court on Saturday stayed investigation in the case till further orders and directed the state government to file its counter by November 4.

"Governments of Telangana hereby withdraws all previous consents issued by the state government under section-6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 to all the members of Delhi Special Police Establishment to exercise the powers and jurisdiction under the said Act in the State of Telangana," reads the GO issued by Ravi Gupta, Principal Secretary, Home Department.

"Consequent to the withdrawal of all previous general consents issued earlier, prior consent of Government of Telangana shall be required to be taken on a case-to-case basis for the investigation of any offence or class of offences," it added.

As per rules under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act of 1946, in accordance with which the CBI was formed, the investigating agency has complete jurisdiction over Delhi. But it can also enter the other states with the general consent of that state's government

In the absence of the permission, the CBI now cannot interfere with any case that takes place within the limits of Telangana.

Cyberabad police on October 26 arrested three alleged agents of BJP including two godmen from a farmhouse at Moinabad near Hyderabad when they were trying to lure four TRS MLAs with offers of huge sums of money.

Ramachandra Bharathi alias Satish Sharma, Kore Nanda Kumar alias Nandu and Simhayaji were arrested during the raid conducted on a tip-off by one MLA Pilot Rohit Reddy.

He alleged that the accused offered Rs 100 crore to him and Rs 50 crore each to three others.

The accused were booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Prevention of Corruption Act. They were produced before a magistrate on the night of October 27 but he refused to send them to judicial custody, citing lack of evidence.

Later, the police approached Telangana High Court challenging the orders of the lower court. The High Court set aside the orders of the ACB Court. The police subsequently re-arrested the accused on Saturday and produced them before the ACB Court judge at his residence.

The judge remanded them to 14-day judicial custody.

--IANS
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Chennai, Oct 30 (IANS) The ruling DMK and its allies in the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) has called upon the Governor of Tamil Nadu R.N. Ravi to quit from the post of Governor if he wants to express views to "please" the BJP central leadership for higher positions.

The DMK leaders and their alliance partners in a joint statement lashed out against the Governor, and said, "His speeches are given importance as he is the Governor of the state. If he is expressing views to please the BJP leadership to get a higher posting for himself, he should quit the Governor's post."

The statement said, "It is not clear whether he is doing it to create unnecessary controvery and confusion or is driven by the desire to draw attention towards it."

The leaders of the SPA said that the Governor's views on Sanatana Dharma, Aryan, Dravidian, Scheduled castes, and Thirukural were dangerous and absurd. They also said that they don't have any problem with his personal beliefs, but lashed out against the Governor expressing conservative and poisonous ideas while he was holding a constitutional post.

The joint statement was signed by senior DMK leader, T.R. Baalu, MDMK Dravidar Kazhagaml leader, K. Veeramani, TNCC president K.S. Alagiri, CPI-M state secretary K. Balakrishnan, CPI state secretary R. Mutharasan, MDMK leader Vaiko, VCK leader Thol Thiruvmavalan and others.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Oct 30 (IANS) Actor-director Rishab Shetty, who has been garnering rave reviews for his recently released movie 'Kantara', recently sought blessings at the iconic Siddhivinayak Temple in the Prabhadevi area of Mumbai.

As Rishab Shetty visited the famous Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai along with his team, he witnessed a huge crowd of fans mobbing him at the temple. The actor was seen in a simple attire wearing a white shirt and jeans.

'Kantara' has created a big buzz for both right and wrong reasons. It film has emerged as a box-office winner, breaking into new territories, and several senior members of the fraternity, including Rajinikanth, have heaped praise on Rishab.

At the same time, the film has stepped on a plagiarism landmine with a Kerala-based fusion rock band Thaikkudam Bridge accusing the makers of ripping off their track 'Navarasam'.

Recently, the Kozhikode Sessions Court had issued an injunction barring the makers of the film from playing the allegedly plagiarised song 'Varaha Roopam' in theatres and other streaming platforms.

--IANS
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By Mohammed Shafeeq
Hyderabad, Oct 30 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is invoking the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Telangana to build a strong narrative for the next year's Assembly elections.



The saffron party is working aggressively to highlight the key role played by India's first home minister in erstwhile Hyderabad State's accession with the Indian Union.

The BJP-led government at the Centre officially organised 'Hyderabad Liberation Day' celebrations in Hyderabad on September 17. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, whom the BJP describes as 'Abhinav Sardar', hoisted the national flag and took the salute from the central police forces at the parade organised by the Union ministry of culture.

Hyderabad State, which comprised Telangana and some districts of present day Maharashtra and Karnataka, became part of India on September 17, 1948, following India's military action 'Operation Polo', popularly known as 'police action'.

The Centre had invited chief ministers of all the three states to the main official function. The move was clearly aimed at embarrassing the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government, which has been rejecting the BJP's demand for officially celebrating the day.

The parade was attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde while Karnataka was represented by a Cabinet minister.

In what is seen as a political masterstroke to checkmate BJP, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) hoisted the Tricolour at parallel 'Telangana National Integration Day' celebrations organised by the state government.

While staying away from the celebrations organised by the Centre in tune with the BJP's ideology, the KCR's government organised its own celebrations to counter the saffron party.

Alleging that the BJP stands for dividing the people in the name of celebrations, KCR claimed that TRS wants to unite people.

The BJP still claimed victory in its sustained campaign as this was the first time that official celebrations were organised on September 17.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), a friendly party of TRS, also celebrated September 17 as the national integration day.

The development was significant as the BJP had been targeting KCR for not officially celebrating the day due to pressure from the AIMIM.

The party led by Asaduddin Owaisi had always maintained that there is only one Independence Day for the entire country and hence there is no need for separate celebrations in Telangana.

The BJP has been demanding for the last two decades that the day should be officially celebrated like in some districts of Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Like the previous governments of Congress and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in undivided Andhra Pradesh, the TRS government in Telangana had rejected demands for officially celebrating the day in view of the reservations by AIMIM and other Muslim groups.

Being an emotive issue with the potential communal polarisation, the BJP has been aggressively pushing for official celebrations. At every public meeting, Amit Shah and other central leaders of BJP have been attacking KCR for not celebrating September 17 officially due to fear of AIMIM and promising that if voted to power in 2023, BJP will celebrate the liberation day in a befitting manner.

"Bring BJP to power in Telangana, we will celebrate the day officially in a grand manner," Shah had told a public meeting in Munugode in August.

The BJP leaders, during their speeches, also make special mention of Sardar Patel and claim that Hyderabad State became part of India thanks to the firm stand taken by the 'iron man'.

"If not for Sardar Patel, Hyderabad would have taken more years to get liberated. Sardar Patel knew that as long as Nizam's Razakars could not be defeated, the dream of Akhand Bharat will not be fulfilled," Amit Shah had stated at the celebrations last month.

He praised Sardar Patel for launching Operation Polo against Nizam's army and Razakars to make Hyderabad a part of India. Shah recalled that even after India became independent, there were no celebrations in the then Hyderabad State and for 13 months people were subjected to repression by Razakars.

Taking a dig at TRS, the Union home minister remarked that some political parties feel ashamed to call September 17 as Hyderabad Liberation Day since they still have fear of Razakars in their mind.

The Union Home Minister said unfortunately those who were in power for 75 years did not dare to celebrate Liberation Day because of vote bank politics.

Razakars were a band of militia formed by Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) leader Syed Qasim Razvi and they indulged in atrocities on those who wanted Hyderabad State's accession to India.

Political parties in the post-1948 Hyderabad State and later in united Andhra Pradesh never organised any official celebrations to avoid any controversy in view of the reservations from the Muslim community due to the massacre of Muslims in the aftermath of 'police action'.

The Sunderlal Committee, appointed by the Government of India to report on the situation after the merger of Hyderabad, found that mass violence was committed against common Muslims. According to the report, 27,000 to 40,000 Muslims were massacred.

This time in a strategic move to counter the BJP, AIMIM organised national integration day to highlight the fact that Hindus and Muslims were advocates of a united India under a democratic and secular government as reflected in the Sunderlal Committee report.

The TRS also used the occasion to launch a counter attack on the BJP for pushing its divisive agenda for its narrow political interests. The TRS leaders slammed the saffron party for giving a communal colour to September 17 to divide people.

When Amit Shah hoisted the national flag in Hyderabad to mark Hyderabad Liberation Day, TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao alleged that he came to divide people while Sardar Patel had united them.

"74 years ago, a Union Home Minister came to unite and integrate the people of Telangana into the Indian union. Today a union home minister has come to divide and bully the people of Telangana and their state government," the TRS leader had tweeted.

--IANS
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By Ajay Kumar
Patna Oct 30 (IANS) Even as the government has changed and people are expecting some improvement, deaths due to poisonous liquor continue in Bihar, a Dry State.


On Saturday when people of Bihar and other states are celebrating Chhath Puja, two persons died in Begusarai after consuming spurious liquor and two others were admitted to a private hospital and are in serious condition.

The deceased have been identified as Bambam Kumar and Chotu Kumar, natives of Ulav village under Singhauli police station.

Begusarai SP Yogendra Kumar visited the spot and the family members of the deceased informed him about Bambam and Chotu consuming liquor on Friday night.

Five persons mysteriously died in two villages under Kargahar police station in Rohtas district on the day of Diwali. Interestingly, the district civil and police administration claimed that they died due to unknown disease.

These incidents are an indication that the system of Bihar remains the same and only the faces of rulers have been changed.

BJP, which was in power in Bihar for two years in the current government, is now playing a role of critics and pointing out loopholes.

Sushil Kumar Modi, the Rajya Sabha MP of BJP, blamed Nitish Kumar government for hiding the cases of deaths due to spurious liquor.

"In the last 10 months, more than 50 persons lost their lives due to poisonous liquor. The state government is hiding the number of deaths. The latest incident appeared in Rohtas when five persons died mysteriously and district administration is trying to wipe out the incident. The officials of the district pointed out that mysterious disease could be the reason for the deaths. They also allowed cremation to take place without a postmortem," Modi said.

The Nitish Kumar government also failed to implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) suggested by Patna high court for the people who consumed poisonous liquor and fell ill. Twelve persons died in Banka, 13 in Aurangabad, 17 in Saran, five in Sohsarai and three in Madhepura in the last two months.

"Apart from ill implementation of liquor ban, the consumption, trade and smuggling of contrabands are taking place in large scale in Bihar. Shockingly, a large number of teenagers are involved in smuggling of liquor and contrabands for easy money. The Nitish Kumar government failed to arrest big fishes of liquor and contrabands's smuggling. The majority of the arrested persons are either teenagers or poor people who were either caught smuggling liquor or contrabands or consuming it," Modi said.

Gaya police on Saturday seized 40 kg marijuana kept behind a banana in a Mahindra pick-up van. During the Chhath Puja, banana is one of the major fruits used in the making of 'Prasad'. The narcotics smugglers are utilising the occasion for smuggling marijuana. When they were crossing the area under Barachatti police, the contrabands were seized during vehicle checking. The smugglers manage to flee from the spot.

"One of the main reasons for the ill implementation of liquor ban is the nexus between mafias and the government officials. The liquor mafias are using poor people for smuggling. When they come under the net of security agencies, they are put behind the bars and state police do not bother to go for deep investigation to reach the actual mafias. As a result, a large number of people are put behind bars and it has put a burden on the judiciary," Modi said.

"According to the report, around 4 lakh cases related to liquor and contraband use and smuggling are pending in various courts of the state. 16 judges are deputed only for the hearing of liquor related cases," he said.

Leader of opposition in Bihar Legislative Council Samrat Chaudhary on Friday levelled a serious allegation on state police, alleging that a team of Gopalganj police went to extort liquor mafia when boat mishap took place in which one of the constables drowned to death in Gandak river recently.

"The police of Bihar are having a nexus with liquor mafias. As a result, liquor is available at every place in the state. The liquor operation is taking place in Bihar under the protection of state police. The team which went for the raid recently was actually demanding extortion from liquor mafias when a boat mishap took place and one cop drowned to death in Gandak river," Chaudhary said.

A police team of Jadhawapur received information about the illicit operation of liquor in Rajwa village on October 26. Accordingly, a police team on a boat went there. When it reached the middle of Gandak river, the boat overturned. The other police personnel managed to come out of the river but one of the constables Rajesh Kumar (36) could not swim and drowned.

Chaudhary said that liquor has been banned in Bihar since 2016 but it is available at every place in the state.

--IANS
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