Yes, I kicked elderly man; it's a small incident: BJP MP Radadiya

Mangaluru, May 10: A young photographer has drowned in River Phalguni near Maravoor on the outskirts of the city.

The victim has been identified as Kaushik, 22, who was working for Diya Studio in Kavoor. A resident of Kavoor, he was the only son of his mother.

The tragedy occurred when he had been to the river along with four friends to collect freshwater snails.

It is learnt that local residents rushed to the spot when Kaushik’s friends raised alarm. However, they could not rescue him.

Kaushik’s body was retrieved from the water after sometime. A case has been registered at Kavoor police station.

Bengaluru, Apr 20: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday came down heavily on Congress legislator BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan over the Padarayanapura vandalism that saw a mob run amok against efforts to quarantine suspected COVID-19 persons late on Sunday evening. 

Khan, who represents the Chamarajpet constituency where Padarayanapura is located, said that authorities should have gone to the area during day time.

“Who is he to say that? What does he have to do with this? Why should we ask him? Should we get his permission to carry out government work? Instead of saying that action should be taken, he is speaking like this. Should we then think that he incited the mob? This is the height of being irresponsible,” Yediyurappa said. 

Following the violence, the police have arrested 54 persons and “five more will be arrested,” Yediyurappa said.

Khan clarified that he did not defend those who indulged in vandalism. “I condemn the incident and action should be taken. I’m not saying officials shouldn’t have gone. My point is that they should’ve gone during the day and by creating awareness beforehand that people need to be quarantined,” he said, adding that the BBMP had identified 57 people to be quarantined in Padarayanapura. 

“People in this area are poor, uneducated and are mostly coolie workers and daily wagers. But whatever happened was wrong,” Khan said. He also pointed out that he was the one who arranged for 80 people to be quarantined in Tipu Nagar. 

Yediyurappa said the Padarayanapura incident was unprecedented. “In the entire state, never had such incidents taken place. Everybody agrees this is unacceptable,” the CM said. “Whoever breaks the law - Hindu, Muslim, Christian or anyone - should face action,” he said.

Udupi, June 26: BJP leader K Raghavendra Kini has been appointed as the new Chairman of Udupi Urban Development Authority (UUDA) by Government of Karnataka.

A well-known businessman, Raghavendra Kini is also serving as the president of Kunjibettu Consumers’ Multipurpose Co-operative Union.

Along with him, the State Government has appointed Suma Naika, Praveen Kumar Shetty and Kishor Kumar as members of the Authority.