Shocking video appears of Hijab-clad woman abused in New Zealand

Mangaluru, Apr 24: The last rites of the elderly woman who died of covid-19 yesterday was finally held in the wee hours of Friday amidst tight security at Kaikunje Hindu Rudra Bhoomi near BC Road bus stand in spite of severe opposition from the members of the own community.

The funeral was held as per the protocol for COVID-19 deaths, police said.

Prior to this hundreds of Hindus had staged a protest  last night in front of Pachanady Hindu Rudra Bhoomi near Vamanjoor following reports that the the 77-year-old coronavirus positive woman's mortal remains will be cremated there.

Mangaluru North MLA Bharat Shetty rushed to the spot and convinced the protesters that he will not allow the authorities to cremate the body at Pachanady. Hence, the authorities shifted the cremation venue, it is learnt. 

Meanwhile, many local residents staged protest at Pachanady against the cremation of the dead body of a coronavirus positive woman. Hence, additional police force was sent from Mangaluru to disperse the crowd and facilitate the last rite.

According to sources, initially the authorities had  planned to cremate body at Baddakatte Hindu Rudra Bhoomi near here native place in Bantwal. However, the locals and the community elders had forced the authorities to change the plan.

Such protests due to misconception about the spread of coronavirus had been witnessed in some other parts of the country, including in Chennai, and the governments have warned of action against those opposing cremation or burial of COVID-19 patients.

So far as many as 17 covid-19 postive cases have been reported in Dakshina Kannada including two deaths from same family from Bantwal's Kasba village.

Bengaluru, Mar 30: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday appealed to people to strictly follow the restrictions in the state, saying that the ending of 21-day nationwide lockdown imposed to contain COVID-19 depends on how the public adheres to the rules.

In a press statement, Yediyurappa appealed to the people to help the government to prevent the spread of coronavirus by strictly following the lockdown.

"People of Karnataka are known for tolerance and patience. They are law-abiding citizens. Now, the lockdown in wake of coronavirus is a testing time for them. It has come to test the patience of our people, especially the people of Karnataka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has apologized and said that lockdown was an inevitable step taken by the government to protect people from the pandemic. We have to realise the predicament of a prime minister who always cares for the well being of the country and its people," the statement quoted Yediyurappa as saying.

"At this hour of crisis, it is not good on our part to come out of houses and violate the curfew. The ending of lockdown depends on strictness with which one follows the curfew and maintain social distancing. If one follows the curfew strictly, the lockdown period will automatically end on April 14. Whether to end the lockdown or not is in your hands," he said.

The Chief Minister urged not to test the patience of police, saying, "Already our police are under stress as they are working without any rest. Do not force them to use the force and later blame them for stern action."

He also appealed to follow the lockdown provisions and stay back in their home.
"The government has taken all measures to maintain the supply of essentials and food to the needy. Consider this situation as a blessing in disguise and spend your valuable time reading books which in turn will boost your knowledge and intellectual capacity. My earnest request to even the poor is spending your time by involving yourselves in creative activities inside your houses," Yediyurappa said.

"At the same time, it is time for us to respect the sacrificing work of the doctors, nurses, health staff and civic workers who are working round the clock to save the lives of hundreds of people affected by coronavirus. My appeal to you all strictly follows the curfew rules and maintains the social distance to combat COVID-19," he added.

Tumakuru, Feb 5: Former Lokayukta Justice N Santhosh Hegde has questioned the integrity of the B S Yediyurappa led BJP government as it has not taken an action to abolish the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to re-establish the Lokayukta in Karnataka.

Speaking after felicitating the retired scientist of NASA Gopal Iyengar at the Karnataka Public School at Kadaba in Gubbi taluk he reminded that the BJP had promised to establish the Lokayukta.

"No party will like to strengthen the Lokayukta and now BSY is also tightlipped and even put an end by appreciating that ACB has been doing a good job", he regretted.

In fact, the Lokayakuta had the power to prosecute even the top brass of officials and now the ACB cannot without the government's permission, he clarified.

He denied any remarks on the CAA and NRC but observed that the youths of the country have been misguided by the politicians as they lost their focus on education by involving in protest rallies.

"I suggest they to straight away take a political plunge instead of getting misused at the hands of the politicians with selfish motives", he said.