1. Gauri Probe: Many SIT Officials Return to Routine Work
The daily slog of routine crime and mounting paperwork is taking a toll on the 61-member Special Investigation Team, which was formed over a month ago to probe the murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh.
A week after SIT released sketches of two suspects, many of the officials working on the case have gone back to attend to routine work, said a source who is part of the team. “This decision was taken at a recent meeting held by city Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar, who reiterated that officers should also focus on cases in their respective jurisdictions, besides investigating Gauri Lankesh’s murder,” said the source.
Source: The Hindu
Also Read: Despite Sketches, No Progress in Gauri Lankesh Murder Probe
2. 75% of Potholes Filled, Claims BBMP
After facing flak from citizens who were forced to negotiate long stretches of bad roads across the city — some of them also resulting in fatalities — the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has gotten to task repairing the roads.
Mayor R Sampath Raj said 75% of the 16,000-odd potholes that had developed following the spate of rains have been filled as on Saturday. “We are not calculating the numbers right now as new ones may have developed owing to other factors,” the Mayor said.
With the rains having stopped, the BBMP is back to filling potholes using hot mix. The Palike had briefly resorted to filling them with cold mix after being rapped by citizens and the government for the poor condition of roads. Earlier, civic officials were waiting for the rain to subside to use hot mix to fix potholes.
Source: The Hindu
Also Read: Fixing B’luru’s 15,000 Potholes in 15 Days is Counter-Productive
3. Karnataka to Change Rules to Allow 100cc Bikes to Carry Pillion Riders
The Karnataka government is likely to amend the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Rules which prohibits pillion riding on two-wheelers with an engine capacity of less than 100cc. With nearly 25% of two-wheelers, particularly scooters used by women riders falling in this category, the state government is likely to reduce it to 50cc. Section 143 (3) of the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 states: 'No pillion seat shall be attached to a motorcycle with less than 100cc engine'.
Sources in the transport department said they had proposed to amend the rule from 100cc to 50cc in 1996 but it has been delayed because of various reasons.
Transport commissioner B Dayananda said: "We have to follow the recent high court order based on Karnataka Motor Vehicles Rules which does not allow pillion riding on two-wheelers less than 100cc. The ban will be applicable for new vehicles and will not have any impact on existing two-wheelers".
He said they will soon send a proposal to the state government to re-examine the earlier move to reduce it from 100cc to 50cc.
Source: The Times of India
Also Read: Mid-Capacity Motorcycles in India: Is There Really Enough Demand?
4. Yeddyurappa Alleges Kickbacks to Karnataka CM, Shivakumar in Coal Deal
The BJP on Saturday fired a fresh salvo at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and energy minister DK Shivakumar, accusing them of being involved in a scam related to the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL). The party claimed that the KPCL's decision to pay Rs 447 crore as penalty after the coal scam verdict of the Supreme Court in 2014, has been spurred on by kickbacks and bribes received by the duo. The Congress, however, has denied the charges.
BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa on Saturday released documents which said the KPCL paid a fine of Rs 447 crore (including interest) solely on its own, despite both the Supreme Court and the Centre not seeking penalty from the Karnataka government-undertaking.
Source: The Times of India
Also Read: Payback for DK Shivakumar? Two FIRs Filed Against Yeddyurappa
5. BBMP Goes to Cops Against 5 Who Put Cockroaches in Canteen Food
BBMP officials have filed a police complaint against five people for "deliberately putting" cockroaches in the food served at an Indira Canteen.
The suspects reportedly created a scene on Friday, saying they had found cockroaches in the food. BBMP officials who rushed to the spot checked the CCTV footage and found that the same people had put cockroaches on the plates. They later filed the complaint at the jurisdictional Kamakshipalya police station.
Acting on the complaint, police booked one Hemanth and four others under IPC sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal Intimidation) on Saturday, a senior police officer said and added that a manhunt had been launched for the suspects.
Source: Deccan Herald
Also Read: Limited Meals at Indira Canteens Leave B’lureans Wanting More
6. Nine Days After Being Washed Away in SWD, Body of Woman Found
Nine days after the mother-daughter duo were washed away in the drain at Laggere near Kurubarahalli, the body of 45-year-old Ningamma was found in Vrishabhavathi river near Jnanabharathi on Sunday.
Ningamma and her 16-year-old daughter Pushpa had washed away in the drain after water gushed into their home on 13 October. Pushpa’s body was found three days later near Kumbalagodu. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had searched for Ningamma’s body till 41 km and continued the search operation in 21 locations.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel had searched for Ningamma’s body till 41 km and continued the search operation at 21 locations.
Source: Deccan Herald
Also Read: Buried Under Garbage: The Storm Water Graves of Bengaluru
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