I still have a lot to say: Pradeep KP on Gauri Lankesh

Agencies
February 28, 2018

Bengaluru, Feb 28: She may have been a fierce activist-journalist for many but Gauri Lankesh was a dear friend for film-maker Pradeep KP, who has made a documentary on the slain editor.

Pradeep said he was left numb when he received the news of Lankesh's murder on the night of September 5 but he did not want to make a documentary. He changed his mind when he saw people come out in her support.

"I didn't want to do it. My crew had started shooting when they reached Gauri's home after the news broke out. The next day when I entered the social media space, I saw this hatred for her from people who didn't even know her.

"But when I saw, scores of people coming forward in protests for Gauri, I thought I should make the film," he said while addressing a full-house screening of "Our Gauri" at the 10th BIFFES last evening.

The film, which begins with people protesting against the killing and is then interspersed with interviews of people close to Lankesh both personally and professionally, was showcased under the 'Resistance' section along with five other presentations. The director said the team dug out shots from a footage of 700 hours and shot for 22 days, non-stop.

"Whatever she stood for, the voice, got stronger after her death," he said.

Pradeep, who was Lankesh's friend for over 16 years and was a part of her campaigns and travels, believes there is still a lot that is left unsaid and he hopes to make a bigger film eventually.

"I still have a lot to say and there was a need to slow down the pace of the film at some places. At that time, I had to bring this out. In two years time, I'll do a larger film on her entire travels over the years in Karnataka. There is so much footage that I haven't even used in this documentary. But I need time for that," he said

Pradeep also said that Gauri Lankesh Patrike is going to continue as people trust the newspaper's voice.

"We are thinking of March 8 as the launch date. We still haven't got the final confirmation on the title.

"It will definitely come out before Karnataka Assembly elections as the paper played a major role in the state politics. We can't stop that legacy. There's a trust that's been formed."

Other documentaries shown in the section were "Qandeel", on Pakistani social media star Qandeel Baloch who was strangulated to death by her brother for 'bringing dishonour' to the family and Indian film, "I am Bonnie" on an ace footballer Bonnie Paul, formerly known as Bandana Paul and his struggle to live with dignity in the society.

As an experiment, short fiction and silent films were also shown, which included "Mr Fazili's wife" by Hassan Fazili and "Screaming Silence" by Fatima Hussaini from Afghanistan.

Fazili could not be at the festival as he fled Afghanistan in 2016 to Serbia after the Taliban threatened him with death over one of his movies. Both the films were represented by filmmaker Hassan Moosavi.

Comments

Prabhakar Bhatt
 - 
Wednesday, 28 Feb 2018

Is this an election gimmick, this women was shot dead on 5-Sep, almost 6 months, the home Minister of Conning-ress & Sid Ra Miya has announced about 5 months ago that killers are identified, they mislead public by wrongly stating this group & that group has murdered her. Now what is this drama many of us know this womens poorvashrama & her high (flying) life in Delhi, why not some Naxalite deal gone wrong.

Sudeep
 - 
Wednesday, 28 Feb 2018

mastermind behind Gauri assasination was Notoriously Brilliant and the method and plan they use is too complex. Strange.. Hope siddu govt can solve this puzzle soon

Danish
 - 
Wednesday, 28 Feb 2018

I dont know Gauri mam directly. Even that also I have lot to say about her. Hope her killer will get punishment soon

Mohan
 - 
Wednesday, 28 Feb 2018

Gauri was great brave activist. We miss her. 

Ganesh
 - 
Wednesday, 28 Feb 2018

No followup of that alleged assasinator

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coastaldigest.com web desk
July 6,2020

Wayanad, Jul 6: DM Education and Research Foundation (DMERF), headed by Dr Azad Moopen, has come forward to handover DM WIMS Medical College, Nursing and Pharmacy Colleges and its associated institutions in Wayanad to the Kerala Government. 

According to Azad Moopen, Managing Trustee, DMERF, the Kerala Government has been deliberating to set up a medical college in the area over the last 7-8 years to address the challenges being faced by the local population due to lack of local availability of advanced healthcare facilities under the government sector. 

The handover by DMERF would address the Government's need. DM WIMS is one of the few NABH accredited medical colleges in the country, he said.

The DM WIMS Medical College and its associated institutions were established by the DMERF Trust 10 years ago to help the backward community of the district. 

Run in a charitable manner, the medical college has a capacity of 150 seats and has seen two batches of doctors graduate from the institution. With a total built up area of 14 lakh sq feet, it also has a 700-bed super-specialty hospital catering to the local community and helping in training healthcare professionals, a 100-bed specialty hospital, a pharmacy college, and a nursing college.

A new medical college by the government will require substantial investments and minimum of 5 years to become functional. “We think that DM WIMS can cater to the requirement of the government and setting up another medical college might not be required to cater to the existing population,” he said.

Moopen also announced a donation of Rs 250 crore out of the total investment in the institutions to the government to provide treatment to the needy population in the backward, landlocked district and to train good quality doctors from the State.

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News Network
March 3,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 3: Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu has said that a medical team is monitoring the health condition of all those people who had stayed with the coronavirus-hit techie who is admitted to a hospital in Hyderabad.

The first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Telangana was reported from Hyderabad on Monday where a man from Bengaluru, who recently returned from Dubai, tested positive for the virus.

"It has come to our knowledge that the coronavirus-hit person in Hyderabad had gone from Bengaluru. Therefore, all the members in the house where he had stayed here have been identified and are under watch," Mr Sriramulu tweeted on late Monday night.

The minister said he has convened a meeting with the additional chief secretary, commissioner and other senior officials of the health department today.

"Our government has initiated all the measures to prevent the spread of this virus," the minister said.

It is learnt that the 24-year-old techie had not contracted it when he was in Bengaluru but all precautionary measures have been taken.

The software engineer, who works in Bengaluru, had worked with people from Hong Kong in Dubai last month where he is suspected to have contracted the virus, Telangana health minister E Rajender told reporters in Hyderabad.

The man reached Bengaluru on February 19/20 and later went to Hyderabad in a bus.

He took treatment for fever after coming to Hyderabad and was admitted to a private super speciality hospital in the city. As it did not subside, he came to the state-run Gandhi hospital on Sunday evening, Mr Rajender said.

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News Network
July 29,2020

Bengaluru, July 29: The Central Crime Branch arrested four international drug peddlers belonging to Kerala and recovered drugs worth Rs 1.25 crore from them, said Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday.

"We have started a war on drugs. Our agenda is to curb the drug mafia not only in Bengaluru, but in entire Karnataka. Many people are involved in the drug mafia. They are targeting students, other states, and international students who can spend and afford to become victims," said Bommai.

The recovered items include 2,000 kg LSD strips, 110 grams MDMA Cristol, 10 ecstasy tablets, 5 kg Ganja, five cell phones, weighing machine and pouches.

"When we raided a house in Soladevanahally police station area, we arrested Shahad Mohammed, Azmal, Ajin KG Verghese and Nitin Mohan. All are from Kerala and we will arrest their contacts as well. They are involved in the dark web mafia," Bommai said.

He said the peddlers were using post offices and couriers for their business.

"I'll speak to the central government, the home ministry and postal department, and other issues related to this mafia. Canada, Netherlands, and other nations are also involved in this mafia," said the state home minister.

"People from influential backgrounds are also involved in this mafia, but our objective is zero tolerance. We are using our intelligence. Drugs are coming from other states like AP, Goa, and other states," he said.
Bommai said he was personally addressing this case and appealed for support from parents, schools and colleges.

"I'm addressing this issue personally because it's important to curb the drug mafia. I need support from schools and college managements and parents. I'll also call college and hostel managements before colleges start. We will make managements responsible," he said.

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