1. Gang Robs Cabbie, Forces Wife to Strip on Video Call
An Ola cab driver was abducted and robbed by unidentified assailants who also forced his wife to strip over a video call. Driver Shivakumar (name changed) said that around 10:20 pm on Friday, 30 November, he received a booking from Adugodi and reached the pick-up point. There were four passengers who had booked the cab for a trip to Dommasandra, located 22 km from the pick-up point.
After reaching the destination, they asked him to go further stating that their house was nearby. When the cab reached an isolated place, the four assaulted the driver. He was tied up and then made to sit in the backseat.
Later, the assailants drove the cab to Ramanagara and stopped near a burial ground where they assaulted him again and demanded money. They took him to another isolated place and asked him to make a video call to his wife. On the call, they asked the driver to tell his wife to strip.
(OLA’s statement: This is an extremely unfortunate incident and we deeply regret the harrowing experience the driver-partner and his family have allegedly been put through. We have blacklisted the customer’s Ola account immediately on the complaint being registered with us. We are in touch with the driver-partner to extend support to him, and have been assisting the investigating authorities with all necessary information.)
(Source: Deccan Herald)
2. In Unusual Move, Kumaraswamy Set to Attend Congress Legislature Party Meeting
In an unusual turn of events, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy – who belongs to the JD(S) – is set to attend the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on 8 December.
CM Kumaraswamy will attend the meeting to address grievances of Congress legislators directly. "The Chief Minister has expressed his interest to take part in the CLP meeting to directly speak to Congress legislators and address any complaints they may be raising regarding the functioning of the coalition government," an official in the CM's Office told TNM.
Sources in the Congress party confirmed that CLP chief and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) invited CM Kumaraswamy to the meeting.
(Source: The News Minute)
3. Four From Bengaluru Killed in Road Accident
Four youth from Bengaluru were killed when the car in which they were travelling hit a truck from behind near Dindigul on Sunday morning. The deceased were identified as V Harish, 23, R Lokesh, 29, G Jothi Babu, 23 and P Manjunath, 26.
Superintendent of Police, Dindigul, R Sakthivel, who inspected the spot, said that the group was going to Aruppukottai from Bengaluru to attend a wedding.
Police said that the incident happened at around 6 am when the car was coming down the flyover at Thadikombu on the Karur-Dindigul highway.
As two trucks were moving side by side on the three-lane bridge, the car driver, who is yet to be identified, had attempted to overtake through the gap in between the two trucks. However, the driver of the truck moving on the middle lane attempted to give way for the car and moved towards the left lane.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. Demand to Organise Hampi Utsav Gains Momentum
The demand for organising Hampi Utsav, a three-day festival of dance, drama and music at Hampi is gaining momentum. Members from various fields, including artistes and politicians, have been mounting pressure on the government in this regard.
The Janata Dal (S)–Congress government has announced that Hampi Utsav will not be held this year as the district is reeling under severe drought.
“Why should drought come in the way of organising Hampi Utsav while other utsavs, including Mysuru Dasara, are conducted,” wonder connoisseurs of drama, dance, and music, here.
Hampi Utsav could not be held on the scheduled dates (3 to 5 November) this year in view of the model code of conduct that was in force for the by-election to the Lok Sabha from Ballari.
(Source: The Hindu)
5. 30 Police Personnel Rewarded for Outstanding Work in Bengaluru
As many as 30 police personnel from Whitefield division were presented cash rewards and a four-day holiday for their outstanding performance in the line of duty. Two of the awardees were women from the Home Guard.
Kamala and Leela, who are attached to Marathahalli police station, were on the way to work in plainclothes when they saw two women picking pockets in a crowded BMTC bus. They kept a watch on the pickpockets and caught them when they got down from the bus. The women allegedly tried to bribe their way out of arrest. “I was doing my duty. My family and friends are so happy that my work has been recognised,” Kamala said.
Digital display boards have been put up in every police station across Whitefield division, where the names of the personnel will be displayed.
(Source: The Hindu)
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