1. MoD: Overheated Car Silencer May’ve Caused Fire
The fire accident at Yelahanka air station that destroyed 300 cars on Saturday, 23 February may have been caused by an overheated silencer of a car aided by strong winds, and the Defence Ministry claimed it acted in the nick of time to prevent the spread of fire.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited the site on Sunday. The ministry said 278 cars were gutted and 73 partially damaged.
At a meeting with CM HD Kumaraswamy in the evening, Sitharaman said the decision on the venue of the next Aero India would be taken later. Defence and state officials agreed to speedily assist victims who lost their vehicles in the fire accident.
(Source: The Times of India)
2. 9 Arrested in Karachi Bakery Incident
A day after the Indiranagar outlet of Karachi Bakery in Bengaluru was forced to cover up the word ‘Karachi’ on its main name board by a mob, police have arrested nine persons in connection with the incident. Police are probing others who were also involved in the incident.
The Hindu reported that those arrested were identified via CCTV footage and were residents of Halasuru and neighbouring areas, between the ages of 30 to 35. Deccan Herald reported they have been booked for rioting and criminal breach of trust.
The arrested men reportedly claimed they were social workers and said that the act was a protest over the Pulwama terror incident. Since then, police have arranged security in front of the shop and other sensitive areas.
(Source: The News Minute)
3. SC/ST Promotions in 15 Days: Deputy CM
Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said on Sunday, 24 February that officers belonging to the Scheduled Castes, who had been demoted, would get promotions in the next 15 days.
This comes in the wake of the SC/ST promotions Act coming into force in the state, Parameshwara said. The deputy chief minister was speaking at a programme here. He said some officers who had got demoted had ended their lives. Parameshwara said no effort should be made to snatch the rights of the SC/ST community, but felt that promotion benefits could be given to those eligible from the other communities too.
(Source: Deccan Herald)
4. Fire Rages for 4th day in Bandipur, Activist Says Warning Signs Ignored
The fire in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district continued to rage for the fourth consecutive day despite the continuous effort by foresters, firemen and volunteers. The fire which began on Thursday, 21 February, has affected all six ranges of the forest, primarily due to strong winds and prevailing dry conditions.
As a result, 70 percent of the forest, spread over more than 500 acres, has been reduced to ashes and many wild animals have been killed in all the six ranges. Forest officials have stopped issuing permits for safaris in the forest for next week. Tourist vehicles were stopped from entering the forest area since Friday, 22 February.
(Source: The News Minute)
5. Woman Architect Molested in Bus; Accused let Free
A 23-year-old woman architect was molested by a passenger sitting behind her, inside a BMTC bus on 17 February. Though the victim raised an alarm and confronted her molester after reporting it to a woman bus conductor, the bus crew ignored her and the perpetrator got down from the bus.
The harried victim then approached the Upparpet police and filed a complaint. The police have analysed CCTV footage from both Majestic bus station and Kuvempu Circle where the culprit alighted, but are unable to get clues on the person. A senior police official admitted that the accused is yet to be arrested.
(Source: Deccan Herald)
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