Mangaluru: DCP hurt in collision of cars

Mangaluru, Mar 29: The second day of a total clampdown by Dakshin Kannada district had no impact as panic-stricken people rushed to buy essential commodities in markets in the City on Sunday without caring for Social distance to be maintained.

Since the crowd swell within minutes the police were forced to order the shops forcibly as otherwise, it might have led to spread of dreaded killer Coronavirus COVID-19.

The rise in Covid-19 cases in Dakshina Kannada and the neighbouring Kasargod district had forced the district administration to declare on total bandh on Saturday and Sunday but in vain.

Belagavi, Mar 16: Despite issuing an order banning large gathering, including lavish weddings, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa attended the grand marriage celebrations of the daughter of BJP MLC Mahantesh Kavatagimath in Belagavi on Sunday.

The Chief Minister had advised people to postpone weddings till the COVID-19 scare passed off, or to restrict the number of guests to around 100. But the wedding on the lawns of Shagun gardens in the Udyambag industrial area in Belagavi had many more times the number of visitors.

A police officer on duty at the venue estimated the crowd to be over 3,000.

The large gathering was in clear defiance of the government order and the Chief Minister’s appeal. But Mr. Yediyurappa’s presence seems to have vindicated this act.

Hundreds of cars were parked on both sides of the Khanapur road, outside the venue which was decorated with flowers, buntings, rolls of paper and colourful cloth. Two huge banners about preventing the spread of COVID-19 have been put up at the venue. There are wash basins at two ends and several hand sanitiser counters across the ground.

Apart from Union Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi, and ministers Srimanth Patil and MLA Mahesh Kumthalli, there were several leaders from the BJP, the Congress and the JD(S) who attended the marriage. There were some officers from the city corporation and district administration among the guests.

The Chief Minister arrived around 11 a.m. and stayed for nearly an hour at the venue. He left after wishing the couple and greeting some leaders.

On his arrival, at the Sambra airport, Mr. Yediyurappa said the State was well-equipped to handle the spread of the infection. “Over one lakh have been tested. Among the 100 suspected cases, the virus was detected only in six persons. One person has died. But otherwise the situation is under control. Officers are working round the clock,’’ he said.

Mangaluru, Apr 6: Taking note of the communally hateful messages, news and pictures in the wake of coronavirus, Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police (SP) Laxmi Prasad on Monday issued strict warning to people spreading such messages and news on local social media platforms.

The SP also confirmed that four cases under his jurisdiction have been registered for sending, forwarding messages with communal hate in the wake of coronavirus on Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media platforms.

He added the police department will not take any such messages, news, and images lightly which can potentially hurt the sentiments of the people of any community. He also added that those found guilty will be prosecuted under strict law and their gadgets, mobiles will be seized by the department.