1. Karnataka Cabinet Okays 3-Colour Flag; Ball is In Centre’s Court
The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday, 8 March, cleared a proposal to give Karnataka an independent flag. If the Centre approves the proposal, then Karnataka will be the second Indian state, after Jammu and Kashmir, to have its own flag.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah unveiled the yellow-white-red flag with the state’s emblem – Gandabherunda (a two-headed mythical bird) – on the white band, and termed it a “historic moment.”
Siddaramaiah said: “The flag represents the aspirations of Kannadigas. We cannot just announce our flag. We will soon write to the Centre to initiate steps to give our flag a national recognition.”
The government had set up a nine-member committee nine months ago to look into the design and legal framework for a state flag. Dissent among pro-Kannada organisations about the design led to a delay in the Cabinet giving its clearance.
(Source: The Times of India)
2. Kempegowda International Airport Takes Off on Girl Power
An all-women team was in charge of operations at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) during the first shift on Thursday, 8 March, on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
A team of 36 women took charge of the operations during the first shift between 6 am and 2 pm. The airport managed 245 air traffic movements, including a few international flights in this duration.
The women’s team was responsible for handling of crucial operations like Airport Operations Control Centre and Airside functions, including apron, airside safety regulations, taxiways, runways, new RETs, taxiway designations, and follow-me cars. The women were also in-charge of aviation safety, guest relations and terminal operations.
(Source: Bangalore Mirror)
3. Two BBMP Contractors Booked for Forcing Labourers Into Manual Scavenging
Two BBMP contractors have been booked by the Whitefield police for allegedly forcing labourers into manual scavenging and cleaning clogged drains and manholes without providing them adequate safety gear.
According to the police, the contractors are also accused of assaulting the labourers when one of them refused to do the job.
The incident came to light when H Abraham, one of the labourers. registered a complaint with the Whitefield police against BBMP contractors K Srinivas and Puneet. In his complaint, Abraham alleged that the duo engaged five labourers from Hagadur to clean clogged drains and manholes a few days ago. The complainant alleged that the labourers were not given masks and gloves.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. Karnataka Cabinet Defers Decision on Minority Status for Lingayats
The state Cabinet on Thursday, 8 March, failed to arrive at a consensus on accepting the expert committee report on granting minority religion status to Lingayats. A seven-member panel, headed by retired high court judge HN Nagamohan Das, had recommended granting minority status to the community, but the Cabinet was divided in its opinion and deferred a decision to 14 March.
The Justice Nagamohan Das panel was constituted by Karnataka State Minorities Commission to study the community’s demand for a separate religion tag. Based on the panel’s report, the minorities’ commission had asked the Congress government to recommend to the Centre to accord minority status to the community. The move is being seen as a poll strategy of the Congress to divide the large Veerashaiva-Lingayat vote bank which traditionally favours the BJP.
(Source: The Times of India)
5. Man Kidnaps 12-Year-Old, Weds Her
A man, said to be a 20-year-old, has allegedly kidnapped a 12-year-old girl, studying in Class 7, sexually harassed and later married her at a temple in Hosakote.
According to the police, the accused is the girl’s neighbour and the incident happened in Bayappanahalli in the first week of March. Shocked by the turn of events, the girl’s parents filed a case. The police filed a case of sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and launched a hunt for the youth who has gone missing ever since the incident happened.
According to the police, the girl is the younger daughter of a restaurateur. According the complaint filed by her father, his daughter visits, his hotel every day on her way back from school.
(Source: Bangalore Mirror)
6. Wild Boar Kills Six-Month-Old Leopard Cub In Mysuru's Chamarajanagar
A six-month-old leopard cub was killed by a wild boar around 11 am on Thursday, 8 March. The incident took place in Kotekere village of Chamarajanagar district.
Speaking to TOI, NP Naveen Kumar, Range Forest Officer (RFO) of Omkar range, said that around noon, he received calls from local residents informing a leopard cub is lying in a pool of blood. "We were in the same village to oversee preparations for a Forest Department programme scheduled on Friday. We rushed to the spot immediately. The leopard cub was wounded fatally near neck, chest and its spinal cord was totally damaged," he informed.
"The leopard cub had a fight with a wild boar. We suspect that even the mother leopard is also injured in the incident," he informed.
(Source: The Times of India)
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