1. Gauri Lankesh Murder: Hindu Yuva Sena Founder Taken into Custody
The SIT, on Friday, 2 March, remanded one suspect into 8 days’ custody for interrogation in connection with the murder case of journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was shot dead in September 2017. This is the first arrest in the case.
The suspect KT Naveen Kumar hails from Mandya district of south Karnataka but currently lives in Chikmagalur. Kumar is the founder of Hindu Yuva Sene.
The 37-year-old was on the radar of the investigative agencies. The Central Crime Branch, acting on a tip off that he was illegally trying to sell .32 mm cartridges in Bengaluru’s Cottonpete, arrested him on 18 February and recovered 15 rounds of cartridges from him.
Read the full story on The Quint.
2. Court Denies Bail for Nalapad and Six Associates
The City Civil and Sessions Court, on Friday, rejected bail for Mohammed Nalapad Haris and six of his associates, terming the case not fit for bail.
The matter came up before the court at around 3 pm, when Judge Parameshwara Prasanna signed several pages of the bail order for 10 minutes before pronouncing the judgement.
The judge, while addressing the jam-packed court hall, said that there was strong evidence at the crime scene and at the hospital, where the accused allegedly followed the victim and attacked him. Moreover, the medical reports show that the victim had sustained serious injuries.
(Source: The Hindu)
3. Techie Falls to Death From 9th Floor
A 28-year-old software engineer has died after falling from the ninth floor of an upscale residential apartment complex at Bellandur on Thursday night. The victim is said to have been partying with five of his friends on the terrace of the apartment. Goutham Kumar, a native of Bihar, is said to have been talking on the phone when he lost his balance and fell. He was sitting on the edge of the parapet wall.
Kumar used to work for a technology firm in Kadubisanahalli. Kumar sat on the parapet wall of the terrace when he was talking on the phone. He is suspected to have lost balance and fallen down. The friends came down and found him dead. The security guards were informed about the incident, who then reported the matter to the police. We are questioning the friends to rule out the possibility of any foul play behind the death,” said an officer.
(Source: Bangalore Mirror)
4. Polluted Tanks, Lakes Prove Health Hazard for Children in Mavallipura
Children living in Mavallipura village, where the BBMP dumps the city's garbage, show signs of deteriorating health due to the increasing toxicity in the waterbodies.
A report by the Environment Support Group (ESG), titled 'Bangalore's Toxic Legacy Intensifies', which was released on Friday, revealed that the children in the village struggle with high respiratory disorders like frequent coughs, meningitis, bronchopneumonia, skin infections and susceptibility to vector-borne diseases like dengue.
It also revealed that the women have constant headaches, skin infections, respiratory disorders, menstrual problems and musculoskeletal disorders. The report is based on a survey undertaken by the ESG in September. The organisation interviewed 4,500 people residing in the villages of Shivakote panchayat, Yelahanka taluk, Ramagondanahalli and Subedarpalya, which is closer to the Mavallipura landfill.
(Source: Deccan Herald)
5. Lingayats Get Panel Nod for Minority Tag
The Lingayat community’s demand for a minority-status tag received a big boost on Friday with a seven-member expert committee recommending to the Karnataka government to consider their plea.
The government had formed the panel to study the proposal for granting the minority status to Lingayats. The panel, headed by former Karnataka high court judge HN Nagamohan Das, has reportedly made the suggestion that the community’s plea is justified on the grounds that Lingayat religion is different from Hindu religion.
Sources said the government was likely to consider the report as it’s among the pre-poll strategies of the Congress to divide the large Lingayat vote bank - traditionally enjoyed by the BJP - in its favour in the upcoming assembly polls due in April-May.
(Source: Times of India)
6. iPads to BBMP Members 48 Hrs After Scheme Is Announced
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike distributed Apple iPads to its 198 elected councillors and 27 nominated members just 48 hours after announcing the scheme.
While the total cost of the gadgets was Rs 91.35 lakh, the BBMP will also be spending Rs 7.65 lakh to train the members in using the device.
The gadgets were distributed at the council meeting, convened to discuss the 2018-19 BBMP budget, presented on 28 February. The BJP members expressed objections over not following the tender process to procure the tablets, though they had no problems in accepting them. Barring Opposition member Padmanabha Reddy, everyone else took the iPads given to them.
(Source: Deccan Herald)