1. Gauri Lankesh Murder: SIT on Trail of Right-Wing Group That Plotted to Target Rationalist Bhagawan
Multiple teams of SIT probing the murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh have reached Maharashtra and Goa to track down a group of four “highly motivated right-wing extremists” whose arrest they hope will lead to a breakthrough.
Sleuths say the group linked to KT Naveen Kumar, a right-wing activist whom the SIT has taken into custody suspecting his role in Gauri’s murder, had visited Karnataka and was in a “very advanced stage of their plot” to target Mysuru-based rationalist K. Bhagavan. They suspect that the same group could be behind Gauri’s murder, considering the similarity in the plots.
Sources said the group had conducted an arms training camp in the forests of Chamarajanagar and had even done a recce of Mr. Bhagavan’s house in Mysuru. Naveen, who had founded Hindu Yuva Sene in 2015, and was peddling firearms, was on the radar of the SIT in the Gauri case like many others. But his alleged involvement in the plot to target Mr Bhagavan raised a red flag, leading to his arrest, sources said.
Source: The Hindu
2. High Drama in HC as Nalapad Accused of Fabricating Doctor's Note on Vidvat
High drama prevailed in the Karnataka High Court on Friday during Mohammed Haris Nalapad’s bail hearing.
Nalapad, the former Bengaluru District General Secretary of the Youth Congress was arrested for brutally assaulting 24-year-old Vidvat at the city’s Farzi Cafe.
Though Vidvat had been allegedly attacked by Nalapad and friends at two locations, Senior advocate, VC Nagesh, who appeared for Nalapad had argued that it was not a case of assault, but just a “drunken brawl”.
“Vidvat did not suffer any serious injuries, nor were any weapons used. It was only a drunken brawl. The fight broke out in the heat of the moment and there was no intention to kill Vidvat. Hence section 307 is not applicable,” VC Nagesh said.
Source: The News Minute
3. Government Suspends DCP for Lax Security at Lokayukta Office
A day after Lokayukta P Vishwanath Shetty was stabbed inside his chamber, the government on Thursday suspended Yogesh, deputy commissioner of police (Vidhana Soudha security), for lapses in the security at the Lokayukta office.
Sources confirmed to TOI that the suspension, with immediate effect, comes at the CM's behest. Earlier in the day, CM Siddaramaiah, who was attacked by the opposition over law and order situation, admitted to security lapses.
Doctors treating Justice Shetty in Mallya Hospital said he is stable and recovering. On Thursday, the government installed a new metal detector at the entrance to the Lokayukta office in MS Building, and also increased security.
Source: The Times of India
4. Car Topples, 3 Girls on Way to College Killed
Three MBA students, all girls, were killed and two of their classmates were injured when their car toppled on NICE Road at Koppa Gate, near Hulimavu, around 7:30 am Friday.
Arshia Kumari (from Andhra Pradesh), Harsha Srivastava and Pavita Kohli (both from Jharkhand) along with Shruthi Gopinathan (from Thrissur) and Praveen, JP Nagar resident from Bengaluru who was at the wheel, were heading to their college, Alliance School of Business, Chandapura, when the accident happened. All the students were around 23-24 years old and fourth-semester students.
Source: The Times of India
5. Cops Set Up Pink Outposts to Nab Eve-Teasers
The police have set up two 'Pink Outposts' in South Bengaluru in a bid to provide more security near women's colleges.
The outposts, one near NMKRV College for Women at Jayanagar 3rd Block and the other at BMS College for Women at Basavanagudi, were inaugurated on Thursday.
The outposts have been set up to protect college-going girls from eve-teasing, said Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), South Zone, Srinivas.
"These outposts will be equipped with four CCTV cameras and only women police will be deployed. Women who are nearby and if they face any kind of harassment can immediately report to the nearest outpost. They don't have to file a written complaint," said S D Sharanappa, DCP, South.
So far, no incidents have been reported, Sharanappa added.
Source: Deccan Herald
6. Lingayat Religion Issue: Cabinet Defers Decision
The State Cabinet, at its meeting on Thursday, did not take a decision on recommending to the Centre to accord “religious minority” status to the Lingayat community and the discussion on the issue remained inconclusive.
Differences between Ministers belonging to Veerashaiva/Lingayat community is said to be the reason for decision.
Briefing the press after the Cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister TB Jayachandra said there was a detailed discussion.
The Cabinet meeting scheduled for 14 March would take a decision, he said, adding there was a view to hold wider consultations on the issue. Sources said that the Cabinet was divided on the issue. Ministers such as MB Patil, Sharan Prakash Patil, Vinay Kulkarni and Basavaraj Rayaraddi demanded the Chief Minister make the recommendation to the Centre, while Eshwar Khandre and SS Mallikarjun are said to have opposed it.
Source: The Hindu