Girl's death in drain: Court acquits four BBMP officials

DHNS
June 28, 2017

Bengaluru, Jun 28: A city court has acquitted four Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials, who were charged with being responsible for the death of Geetha Lakshmi (9) who was washed away after she fell into an uncovered drain on Bannerghatta Road on October 6, 2014.drainage

The officials who have been acquitted are Shivaprakash K M (53), the then jurisdictional assistant executive engineer, S L K Swamy (45), the then jurisdictional joint engineer, S G Shivakumar (56) and Renukananda V (50).

The girl fell into an uncovered drain during the rain around 8.10 pm in front of Janaka Group office, Pai International Showroom, Bannerghatta Road. Her body was recovered on October 8, 2014.

The victim’s aunt Lakshmi in her complaint to the police had stated that the BBMP officials carried out works in the day, but did not cover the drainage which led to the girl’s death.

Of the 23 witnesses named in the charge sheet, 21 including eye-witnesses, mahazar witnesses and the J P Nagar police, under whose jurisdiction the incident had occurred, did not appear before the court.

Considering the absence of these witnesses, Mala N D, the 44th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate stated in her order that the investigating officer did not secure and produce before the court any of the eye-witnesses, which meant the investigation by the investigating officer remained unproved.

“As a result, the prosecution has failed to prove charges against the accused with convincing and corroborative evidences,” the magistrate noted. Only two witnesses were examined in the case, Lakshmi, the victim’s aunt and Prince Vicky, a worker in a store located near the place of the incident.

Lakshmi told the court that she was holding the hands of Geetha Lakshmi when the girl suddenly fell into the drainage and was washed away. Vicky denied giving any statement to the police and turned partially hostile. He told the court that there was some repair work on that day and the drainage was left uncovered.

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Thursday, 29 Jun 2017

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News Network
February 12,2020

Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday shuffled the portfolios of six newly inducted ministers after they expressed unhappiness about the departments allocated to them barely 24 hours ago.

Three ministers — BC Patil, Anand Singh and K Gopalaiah — received new responsibilities and as many — Shivaram Hebbar, Srimanth Patil and Byrathi Basavaraj — have been saddled with more.

Sources said the six ministers met the CM late Monday night and said they were not happy with the portfolios handed to them. They reportedly threatened not to assume office until their demands were met, forcing the CM to effect the changes early Tuesday.

BC Patil is now vested with agriculture (he had been given forest), Anand Singh forest, environment and ecology (earlier food and civil supplies) and Gopalaiah food and civil supplies (instead of small-scale industries). BC Patil said, “I’m happy I can now be with farmers.” Shivaram Hebbar has been given the additional responsibility of sugar along with labour allocated to him on Monday.

Allocation of the forest portfolio to Anand Singh has raised eyebrows as the Vijayanagara MLA had been arrested in 2013 and 2015 in cases of illegal mining and illegal transportation of mining ore. Singh owned SB Mineral in Ballari and the Lokayukta had charged him with transporting 17,086 tonnes of iron ore without permission or valid licence. He was acquitted in a Belikeri iron ore export case due to lack of evidence.

Byrathi Basvaraj, who has been given the urban development ministry, will also handle Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board and Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation.

Srimanth Patil has received minority welfare department apart from textile.

The exercise of portfolio shuffling is likely to continue with minister K Sudhakar reportedly unhappy with medical education.

In another embarrassment to the CM, Mahesh Kumathalli on Tuesday refused to take over as chairman of the Mysore Sales International Ltd, saying he wants to be a minister. BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal urged Yediyurappa to induct Kumathalli into the cabinet in line with the promise made to him when he joined the BJP before bypolls. “The CM must keep his word,” he said.

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News Network
July 29,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 29: Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar on Tuesday criticised BJP-led Karnataka government for limiting or omitting various topics including chapters on 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan and his father Hyder Ali.

Speaking to media here at Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office, Shivakumar said Congress will not allow BJP government in Karnataka to "divert history".

"Tipu Sultan does not belong to one caste or a class. He is part of the history of this country. BJP government has removed chapters related to him for its political advantage. It is their decision whether they celebrate Tipu Sultan Jayanti or not, but he is part of our history. 

The President of this country Ramnath Kovind came to the Vidhan Sabha and praised Tipu's patriotism during a joint session," Shivakumar said.

"The BJP government has come to power today. Our history should not change. We will not let these people to covert or dilute history. This is the stand of the Congress party. Our experts will study the pros and cons of this decision," he added.

Shivakumar further said many countries around the world have praised the Constitution, Indian history and expressed their willingness to "adapt it".

"But the BJP is trying to curtail this. We need to educate our children. Our team will also study this and we will not let this happen," he said.
The Karnataka government, in a bid to reduce the syllabus for state board schools by 30 per cent, has limited or omitted various topics including chapters on Mysuru rulers Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan from the class 7 social science textbook.

The reduction in syllabus comes as schools are closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state, and classes have been moved online.
The Department of Public Instruction of the Karnataka government also limited or removed various other topics from the syllabus of class 6 to 10 as they were repeated or can be alternatively taught.

Earlier, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had revised the syllabus for the classes IX to XII for the academic session 2020-21 in a "one-time measure" owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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News Network
April 29,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 29: As many as 11 more people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the last 24 hours in Karnataka, said the State's Health Department on Wednesday.

According to an official statement, 11 new COVID-19 positive cases were reported from 5 pm on April 28 to 5 pm on April 29.

"With this, the total number of positive coronavirus cases in the state has mounted to 534, of which 20 deaths have been reported and 215 people have recovered," added the statement.

Of 20 coronavirus patients who died, one death was due to the non-COVID cause, the statement further said.

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