1. ISI-Helmet Rule Withdrawn
The city traffic police’s special drive against motorists and pillion riders using substandard helmets without ISI certification has proven to be a damp squib even before it could take off.
Four days prior to the crackdown, which was scheduled to begin on 1 February, the traffic police have withdrawn the initiative following a clarification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). It appears that there is no way to ascertain if a helmet meets the prescribed standard safety requirements by a cursory visual inspection.
A week ago, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R Hithendra had written to the BIS seeking clarification on helmets conforming to BIS standards, especially with regards to half-face helmets and imported ones. The bureau, however, in its reply stated that the conformance of helmets to Indian standards cannot be assessed through a visual examination, following which the police have decided to abort their drive.
(Source: The Hindu)
2. 500 Pink Autorickshaws to Hit Bengaluru Roads by April
Come April, women in Bengaluru will be able to hail pink autorickshaws, reserved for their use. To be distributed under the welfare schemes of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, the autos will come equipped with CCTV cameras and GPS trackers and will hit the roads by the end of March.
"We plan to distribute 500 pink autos under our welfare schemes. We will provide Rs 80,000 in subsidy for each autorickshaw, and the beneficiary will have to pay the balance. The drivers can be men or women, but if the latter come forward, they will be given preference. We will provide a special training programme for male drivers to behave with woman passengers better," said Abdul Rakeeb Zakir, chairperson of the BBMP standing committee for social justice and welfare.
(Source: The Times of India)
3. Four Injured in Pile-up Caused by Anantkumar Hegde's car, He Just Drives Off
Four people were wounded in a pile-up caused by Union minister Anantkumar Hegde's car in North Bengaluru on Sunday evening, but instead of attending to the victims, he just drove off to the Kempegowda International Airport, an eyewitness said.
The accident occurred at Dorekaval gate on National Highway 207 near Devanahalli around 6:30 pm while the minister was travelling from Doddaballapur to the airport. Hegde's chauffeur applied brakes to avoid a pothole, and a monkey crossing the road. The car ended up hitting a Toyota Innova moving ahead.
Seeing the crash, the driver of the minister's escort vehicle applied brakes, too. This triggered a serial accident, in which at least four vehicles were damaged.
(Source: Deccan Herald)
4. Goa Delegation Makes a Surprise Kalasa Visit
Relations between Karnataka and Goa over the Mahadayi soured further, with a Goan delegation led by Speaker Pramod Sawant and Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo making a surprise visit to the Kalasa project site near Kanakumbi, in Khanapur taluk, on Sunday.
The team was there to check whether there was any violation of the Mahadayi tribunal and Supreme Court orders.
The delegation comprised BJP legislator Alina Saldanha, Independent MLA Prasad Gaonkar, president of Mahadai Bachao Andolan Nirmala Sawant, secretary Rajendra Kerkar and some former MLAs. They were accompanied by mediapersons and police officials from Goa.
(Source: The Time of India)
5. 22 Bank Accounts Hacked, Rs 5.3 lakh Stolen in 48 Hours
The city Cybercrime police have observed a pattern in phishing, e-scams and hacking cases — at the beginning of every month, when salaries are credited into accounts, there is a spurt in such crimes.
On an average, there are eight to 10 cases reported on the first and second of every month. There was a spike in the New Year, with an unusually number of high number of complaints being reported.
According to Cyber crime officials, as many as 22 cases of bank accounts being hacked were reported on 1 and 2 January. Cumulatively, hackers were able to steal Rs 5.3 lakh within 48 hours, said a police officer.
(Source: The Hindu)
6.Gauri Day Today, Mevani, Kanhaiya Kumar to Participate
The Gauri Memorial Trust will celebrate 29 January as Gauri Day to mark the 56th birth anniversary of slain journalist Gauri Lankesh.
The event, to be held in Town Hall, will see the participation of leaders like MLA from Gujarat Jignesh Mevani, former JNU students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar, former vice president of the union Shehla Rashid, JNU student Umar Khalid, and student leader Richa Singh from Allahabad.
The programme will begin at 2 pm with songs dedicated to Gauri, sung by Sufi singer Sumati and Hulikunte Murthy. An oath will be administered to protect the spirit of Constitution. Gauri's sister Kavitha Lankesh, actor Prakash Rai, media advisor to the chief minister Dinesh Amin Mattu and Doddipalya Narasimha Murthy, president of the trust, will address the gathering.
(Source: Deccan Herald)