1. Mahadayi Dispute: 2 Bandhs in 11 Days to Hit Bengaluru
Pro-Kannada organisations and farmers have called for two bandhs in Karnataka over the next two weeks, in a bid to get the Mahadayi river dispute resolved.
While the 25 January bandh will be observed statewide, another bandh will be organised in Bengaluru on 4 February to coincide with the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to attend the state BJP Parivarthana rally in the city. The intent is to pressure Narendra Modi to intervene in the river dispute.
In Hubballi, Kannada Okkuta president Vatal Nagaraj faced the ire of Mahadayi and Kannada activists for not taking them into confidence when he gave a call for a Karnataka bandh on 25 January.
(Source: The Times of India)
2. Bellandur Blaze Doused After 30 Hours
The fire raged for 30 hours in the Bellandur lake area and kept hundreds of residents around the polluted water body in south-east Bengaluru on tenterhooks. Much to their relief, the blaze was finally doused by fire force personnel and armymen around 4.30 pm on Saturday, 20 January. About 40 acres of the 950-acre water body were damaged.
The cause of the fire is still not yet confirmed. Despite initial reports of fire being put out late Friday night, tongues of flames were visible on Saturday morning and around noon, thick columns of smoke were still billowing. Karnataka fire and emergency services and army personnel were pressed into action to salvage the situation with fire spreading over several parts, including the grasslands on the lake periphery.
Officials, including those with the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), the custodian of the lake, and Fire Department haven't yet been able to lay a finger on what sparked the fire.
(Source: The Times of India)
3. Eight Hurt As Cylinder Explodes at Gas Agency
Eight people were severely injured when an LPG cylinder exploded at a gas service agency in Kadirenahalli near Banashankari II Stage, South Bengaluru, on Sunday, 21 January.
The incident occurred at PNT Gas Agency, owned by one Pyaare Jaan. The store undertakes repairs of gas stoves and cylinders. The injured have been identified as Imran, Irfan, Rehan, Danish, Sharath, Imran Pasha, Chhote Lal Yadav and Rahul Yadav and are undergoing treatment. Irfan has been working at the shop for the past 10 years.
Chhote Lal and Rahul had come to the store to fix a leaking cylinder which exploded all of a sudden, said the jurisdictional Kumaraswamy Layout police.
(Source: Deccan Herald)
4. Bizman Hacked to Death
In an incident that shook the neighbourhood, a 48-year-old businessman's brutally hacked and decomposing body was discovered at his home in Panchasheelanagar in Moodalapalya near Vijayanagar on Saturday, 20 January.
The police said Ganesh was a dealer of second-hand vehicles and had recently begun property dealings. His wife Uma and college-going son had discovered the body after returning from Shivamogga on Saturday night.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) MN Anucheth said the assailants had stabbed him in his chest, hands and stomach. The DCP said the police have registered a murder case based on Uma's complaint and are examining CCTV footage collected from nearby areas.
(Source: Deccan Herald)
5. Design Deadlock May Force Govt to Put Off State Flag Plan
Having pitched for an independent flag for Karnataka, the Congress government may be forced to put a formal decision on hold till the Assembly elections, as pro-Kannada outfits remain divided over its design.
Many from the nine-member committee set up by the government to design the flag and provide it a statutory standing told TOI that with no legal hurdles, a favourable recommendation for such a symbol is likely to be submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in a week or 10 days, along with at least three shortlisted designs.
The committee met last week but was unable to arrive at a decision, with two issues still pending for final consideration. Kannada Development Authority (KDA) chairperson S G Siddaramaiah, one of the members, said: "Most things have already been discussed. We're meeting again because we didn't want to rush into a decision. We want to accommodate all points of view especially on the design front and submit a report."
(Source: The Times of India)
6. Boyfriend Raped, Refused To Marry Her, Says Woman
A 29-year-old MNC employee has been accused of rape and sexual exploitation by a 24-year-old woman whom he reportedly befriended on Facebook. The woman has filed a complaint with the police saying the man has raped her more than once and he allegedly refused to marry her saying that his parents would not approve of her as his wife as she was dark-skinned.
In her complaint with the HAL police, the woman claims the accused laced her juice with sedatives before raping her more than once in the recent past at Murudeshwara a few months ago and later in Madikeri. The HAL police who have registered the case few days ago have transferred the case to the jurisdictional Madikeri police. According to the woman, a resident of Marathalli, she befriended Dinesh, an employee of a MNC two-and-half years ago through social media. They exchanged phone numbers and started chatting with each other.
(Source: Bangalore Mirror)
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