Davanagere, Belagavi among first 20 smart cities; Mangaluru disappointed

Bengaluru, Jan 25: The local police will provide security for Sri Nijagunananda Swami and his Kittur Nishkal Mantapa Mutt following a letter containing a threat to his life that was received on Friday.

The letter, containing the names of 15 liberal thinkers and activists, was circulated widely on social media and shown on some Kannada TV channels. The letter is addressed to the seer, and it condemns his lectures where he speaks in favour of liberal values.

“The decision to eliminate you will be taken on January 21. You will be eliminated, along with 15 of your followers and people who think like you,” the letter said. 

Among those threatened are Nidumamidi Channammalla Swami, Jnyana Prakash Swami, the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, actors Prakash Raj and Chetan Kumar, writer Chandrashekar Patil, Brinda Karat of the CPI(M) and writer K.S. Bhagavan.

It is not the first time that the seer is getting such threats. Two years ago, Belagavi Police had provided security to the seer following threats to his life. Last year, he got a phone call from a person from Shivamogga district. But the seer did not bother to complain.

This time, the district police will seek a written complaint from the seer. “We will assess the threat perception and the security levels. Adequate security will be provided,” the police said.

The seer is now camping in Jewargi in Kalaburagi district. “We have intimated the Kalaburagi Superintendent of Police of the need for immediate security arrangements. We will take steps to provide adequate security to him once he arrives in Belagavi district,” Superintendent of Police Lakshman Nimbaragi said.

Bengaluru, May 22: Karnataka government on Thursday announced that weddings scheduled for May 24 and May 31 are exempted from complete lockdown on Sundays.

As per an earlier advisory issued by the State government with regard to weddings, not more than 50 guests shall be allowed and the consumption of liquor on the occasion will be prohibited.

According to the advisory, sanitisers should be provided at the entry and other appropriate places at the venue. Also, thermal screening of all persons shall be conducted at the entry of the venue. The scanner should be held 3-15 cms away from a person's forehead.

Apart from this, the venue shall be "clean and hygienic," and a "nodal person shall be identified for overseeing the arrangements and coordination at the venue."

Also, a list of attendees with contact details has to be maintained and all guests should have downloaded Aarogya Setu app.

Mangalore, Mar 18: The Dakshina Kannada District Home Guards felicitated social activist and Executive Director of Centre for Integrated Learning, Sachitha Nandagopal at the Home Guards district office to mark the International Women's Day recently.

She was recognised for her achievements and contributions to the society in the field of education, culture and mental health.

Sachitha Nandagopal, a former Head of Department of Journalism at Besant Women's College and Principal of CMR Post Graduate Centre for Media Studies, Bangalore, is the Co-Founder of Centre for Integrated Learning, Mangalore which is an NGO working in the field of alternative education, adding value to the present education system. As a Facilitator in Dance Movement Therapy, she has founded Anveshanam - Centre for Mindfulness and Emotional Wellbeing, an organisation dedicated to addressing mental health issues.

She was honoured by District Commandant, Dakshina Kannada Home Guards, Dr. Muralimohan Chunthar. Senior Home Guard Ramesh Bhandary, Diwakar, Mahesh and lady personnel of Home Guards were present on the occasion.