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Attacks on RTC drivers in Maha: Bandh evokes mixed response in K’taka; activists slam cops’ high-handedness

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Bengaluru, March 22: The Karnataka bandh, called on Saturday to condemn the attack on RTC drivers for not speaking Marathi in Belagavi and Maharashtra, evoked a mixed response across the state. Thousands of Kannada activists staged protests at district headquarters, and police detained hundreds of them.

The protestors have also placed about 20 demands before the government in the interest of Kannada language and state.

Authorities made tight security arrangements in Bengaluru and denied permission for Kannada activists to stage a protest at Town Hall, a major junction in the city.

Police personnel outnumbered the protesters at the venue and transported them to Freedom Park in RTC buses. Fifteen RTC buses were stationed at the spot, and as protesters gathered, they were boarded onto these buses and dropped off at Freedom Park.

Permission for a protest march from Town Hall to Freedom Park was also denied. Since Town Hall is located in a key junction within Bengaluru’s Central Business District, any disruption there was expected to have widespread effects.

In Belagavi, where the attack on Karnataka RTC staff for not speaking Marathi initially occurred — triggering similar attacks on drivers from Maharashtra in Karnataka and vice versa — the bandh was total.

Buses from Maharashtra did not enter Karnataka, and authorities increased security to ensure the safety of the large Marathi-speaking population in the bordering region.

The bandh was also total in Mandya, Chikkamagaluru, Bagalkot, Hubballi-Dharwad, Chamarajanagar, Bidar, and other districts. In some parts of the state, the response was partial and mixed.

Vatal Nagaraj, Chairman of Kannada Okkuta (Federation of Kannada Organisations), an umbrella body of pro-Kannada and other groups, declared on Saturday that the state-wide bandh was successful.

“I congratulate all activists and organisations across the state for participating in the protest. The bandh has been total in all districts,” he stated.

“We have presented our demands to the government, the people, and the nation. The Bengaluru police acted with highhandedness to obstruct the bandh, arresting about 3,000 Kannada activists on Friday night alone. They also indiscriminately served notices,” he alleged.

He further criticised the Bengaluru Police Commissioner, stating, “It seems he has taken it upon himself to ensure the bandh does not succeed. The previous Commissioner, Bhaskar Rao, entered politics after retirement. If the current Commissioner has similar plans, he is welcome to pursue them,” he chided.

“The police insist that protests be staged at Freedom Park, which cannot accommodate even one percent of Bengaluru’s population. The Police Commissioner should conduct himself with dignity. I strongly disapprove of the attempts made to suppress the bandh,” he added.

“We have the capability to ensure that not even a drop of water is available to people during a bandh. This agitation will not stop here — it is a warning to the government. The authorities systematically used the police to prevent the bandh. But why are we protesting? Who are we protesting for? It is for the welfare of the state. Yet, the government has gone to the extent of trying to suppress the bandh,” he alleged.

Finally, he thanked the media and the people of Karnataka, stating, “I congratulate the media and the people of the state for making this bandh a success despite all the challenges.”

Crime

Mumbai Shocker: 24-Year-Old Woman Attacked Over Love Affair In Kalachowki, Assailant Dies By Suicide; Chilling Visuals Surface

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Mumbai: A shocking incident occurred in the Kalachowki area, where a 24-year-old woman was brutally attacked in broad daylight by her former boyfriend, identified as Sonu Barai, who later ended his own life.

According to police sources, the couple had broken up about 8–10 days ago, following which Barai had allegedly been trying to reconcile with the woman. When she refused, he launched a violent attack on her near a local nursing home.

The woman, who sustained serious injuries, was immediately rushed to the hospital in a taxi with the help of locals. Eyewitnesses reported panic at the scene as the assault unfolded on a busy street.

Following the attack, Barai inflicted fatal injuries on himself. Both were initially taken to the hospital, where the woman remains in critical condition.

Kalachowki Police reached the spot soon after receiving the alert and have initiated further investigation into the matter.

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National News

Bihar Assembly elections: 70 candidates withdraw nominations for 2nd phase

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Patna, Oct 24: After the withdrawal deadline for the second phase of nominations ended, a total of 70 candidates have taken back their nominations for the upcoming Bihar Assembly Election 2025, according to data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday.

The deadline ended at 5 p.m. on Thursday. For the second phase, nominations were filed for 122 Assembly seats across 18 districts.

A total of 1,761 candidates had submitted their nomination papers, out of which 389 nominations were rejected during scrutiny.

After scrutiny, 1,372 nominations were found valid. Following the withdrawal of 70 candidates, 1,302 candidates now remain in the fray for the second phase.

A district-wise analysis of withdrawals shows that the highest number came from Kishanganj, where 10 candidates withdrew their nominations.

In Araria, seven candidates pulled out, while West Champaran, East Champaran, Madhubani, Katihar, and Rohtas districts saw five withdrawals each.

In Gaya and Nawada, four candidates each withdrew their nominations, while Sitamarhi, Bhagalpur, Banka, Jehanabad, and Aurangabad recorded three withdrawals each.

Sheohar, Supaul, Purnea, Arwal, and Jamui witnessed one withdrawal each, and no candidate withdrew their name in Kaimur district.

The nomination process for the second phase began on October 13 and concluded on October 20, with voting scheduled for November 11.

The upcoming Assembly election in Bihar is shaping up to be a direct contest between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan).

While the NDA has already begun its campaign under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the Grand Alliance recently resolved internal disputes over seat-sharing and leadership.

Following intervention by senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, the alliance announced Tejashwi Yadav as its Chief Ministerial candidate, and Mukesh Sahani of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) as one of the Deputy Chief Ministers if the alliance forms the government.

With both alliances finalising their strategies and leadership, Bihar is now set for an intense electoral battle in the coming weeks.

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Crime

ISIS-inspired module busted in Delhi, two operatives trained in ‘fidayeen attack’ nabbed

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New Delhi, Oct 24: In a major operation, the Delhi Police Special Cell busted an Islamic State (ISIS)-inspired terror module on Friday and nabbed two operatives who were allegedly planning to conduct an IED blast in the national capital.

The two suspected terrorists are understood to have undergone training for a ‘fidayeen (suicide) attack’ and were in advanced stages of conducting a terror strike in a crowded area of the city, reports said.

According to the police, one of the arrested operatives is Delhi-based, while another one hails from Madhya Pradesh. One of them was identified as Adnan.

The arrest was made during a joint and coordinated operation by the intelligence agencies and the Special Cell. The arrests were made in separate operations — one in Delhi’s Sadiq Nagar and the other in Bhopal.

A cache of arms and ammunition was also seized from their custody, police sources said.

A senior officer told a leading daily that the operation was conducted by a team led by Additional Commissioner Pramod Kushwaha and ACP Lalit Mohan Negi.

The busted terror module has been inspired by ISIS and is also believed to have the backing of Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).

Meanwhile, the intelligence and security agencies are further conducting operations to unravel the full extent of their plans and plots to unleash terror. The potential link of the busted module with global terror networks is also under investigation.

Further details are awaited, but the unravelling of a terror module in the city marks a big success for the security forces and relief for the general public.

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