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Bengaluru, Jul 15: With the state capital along with a few districts under lockdown to control the spread of Covid-19, Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said the measure was important to break the chain and people seem to have understood its importance.

Appealing for cooperation from the people, he asked them not to make it inevitable for police to use force in implementing the lockdown. "Traffic movement is less, there is a lockdown atmosphere everywhere, I feel that people have understood the importance... cooperation is required. I appeal to the people, if this lockdown has to be effective it has to be voluntary, only then we can control the rapid spread of coronavirus," Bommai said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said this lockdown is important, last time the infection was not up to this level. "This time areas that have a high number of infections- about five districts and Bengaluru city are going for lockdown. People have understood that this lockdown is to break the chain," he said. "Please don't make it inevitable for police to use force," he added.

Bengaluru urban and rural areas are under "complete lockdown" since last night at 8 pm and it will be effective till 5 am on July 22.

Following Bengaluru urban and rural, administrations in several districts like Dharwad, Dakshina Kannada, Kalaburagi (only in Urban areas), Bidar, Raichur (in Raichur city and Sindhanur) and Yadgir too have announced lockdown.

Noting that Police have taken all necessary strict measures to enforce lockdown in Bengaluru urban and rural districts by restricting the movement of vehicles and people, Bommai said barricades have been erected at various places and flyovers have been shut. People have been allowed to purchase vegetables and groceries till 12 noon, he said.

The government has warned of action in case of any violation of the lockdown rules. As of July 14 evening, cumulatively 44,077 Covid-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 842 deaths and 17,390 discharges. Bengaluru Urban district tops the list of positive cases, with a total of 20,969 infections.

Udupi, Jan 1: A 53-year-old Journalist of a Mangalore-based media house was found dead at his flat in Manipal on Tuesday.

The deceased has been identified as Rohit Raj (53), a resident of Pandeshwar Mangaluru.

According to the Manipal police, on December 31, Rohit Raj had attended a New Year party celebration at Kadiyali, Udupi along with his wife.

Bengaluru, Apr 14: Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday demanded that BS Yediyurappa-led government should cut down on 'unnecessary' expenditures to mobilise funds to fight against coronavirus.

"Yediyurappa government needs to cut down on unwanted expenses which government is spending on several things in order to save the taxpayers money to fight against coronavirus," said Siddaramaiah here in a press conference.

He alleged that the ruling state government is indulged in corruption due to which the government is running bankrupt, adding that instead of mobilising funds, Yediyurappa government is only concentrating on auction of Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) sites.
Siddaramaiah claimed that the "BDA was already in loss".

"The present government does not have money due to its involvement in corruption. The Karnataka government must concentrate on cutting expenses and there is no need to waste money on unwanted things including vehicles for board and corporations chiefs," said the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader.

"Yediyurappa government has decided to auction more than 12,000 BDA sites to get benefit of Rs 15,000 crore, rather than fullfiling requirements of people of the state at the time of coronavirus crisis," he said.

In Karnataka, 247 people have tested positive for coronavirus, including 59 cured and discharged and 6 deaths, according to the Union Health Ministry.