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K’taka bandh on Aug 13: Kannada outfits divided after rain eases water situation

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Bengaluru : Several Kannada organisations have extended support to the Karnataka bandh called on August 13 over Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the Mekedatu drinking water project, even as differences have emerged among Kannada groups over whether the shutdown is necessary amid good rainfall and rising water levels in the state’s reservoirs.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike leader Praveen Kumar Shetty on Tuesday said the bandh may not be necessary given the recent rainfall and improving water situation. He said his organisation would discuss the matter with its office-bearers before taking a final decision.

“When the bandh was called, there were no rains. After the bandh call was given, rains started. The KRS reservoir is filling up and the Kabini dam is also full. More than the prescribed 3,000 cusecs of water is being released to Tamil Nadu,” Shetty said.

He said the impact of a statewide shutdown on daily wage workers, hotel operators, small shop owners and others who depend on daily earnings should also be considered.

“Every day, labourers, hotel workers and those running small shops depend on their daily income. We cannot simply say that the bandh is not required if people feel it is necessary. We will discuss it with our office-bearers and try to convince Vatal Nagaraj,” Shetty said.

Shetty also said Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had indicated that he would speak to Kannada organisations on the issue and that they were waiting for the meeting.

“We will meet Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj and discuss the matter. The Chief Minister has also said that he will speak to us, and we are waiting for that,” he said.

Meanwhile, several Kannada organisations have backed the August 13 bandh, which has been called to protest Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the Mekedatu project.

Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj had appealed to people across Bengaluru and Karnataka to actively participate in the bandh and take to the streets in support of the proposed project.

Nagaraj said the protest was necessary as Tamil Nadu had opposed the Mekedatu project without, according to him, giving convincing reasons for its objections.

“We are launching a protest for the Mekedatu project. Tamil Nadu has protested against the project, but it has not explained what problems it would face because of it,” Nagaraj said.

He warned that Bengaluru could face a serious drinking water crisis if the Mekedatu project is not implemented.

“If the Mekedatu project is not implemented, there will be no water for Bengaluru. Where will you go then? We are protesting for the people of Bengaluru,” he said.

Nagaraj also appealed to people from all communities and linguistic backgrounds living in Bengaluru to support the bandh, arguing that access to drinking water concerns everyone.

However, there is no unanimity among Kannada organisations over the proposed shutdown.

Mandya-based Kannada organisations have announced their support for the bandh. The Kannada Sene in Mandya has said the bandh will be observed, while the Cauvery Hitarakshana Vedike is expected to hold a meeting before announcing its decision.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike president T.R. Narayana Gowda has said his organisation will instead stage a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Kannada activist Sa. Ra. Govindu has also said he will not support the bandh.

The Ola and Uber Cab Aggregators Owners and Drivers Association has also indicated that it is not keen on supporting the shutdown.

The proposed bandh comes amid a renewed debate over the Mekedatu project, with Karnataka maintaining that the reservoir is crucial for meeting Bengaluru’s drinking water requirements. Tamil Nadu has opposed the project, citing concerns over the Cauvery river and downstream water availability.

With Karnataka receiving good rainfall and reservoirs such as KRS and Kabini witnessing improved inflows, some Kannada organisations have questioned the need for a bandh at this juncture. However, supporters of the shutdown maintain that the protest is necessary to put pressure on Tamil Nadu and the Centre over the Mekedatu project.

The extent of participation in the August 13 bandh is likely to become clearer after the various Kannada organisations conclude their consultations and announce their final decisions.

Crime

Drunk Dial 112 driver hits cyclist, motorcycle in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur

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Patna, Aug 31: A Dial 112 emergency vehicle driver was accused of driving under the influence of alcohol and hitting a cyclist and a motorcycle in Muzaffarpur’s Ramdayalu area on Monday.

The incident, which falls under the jurisdiction of Sadar Police Station, triggered anger among local residents.

Police subsequently took the driver, identified as Santosh Kumar, into custody.

According to police, the detained driver underwent a medical examination, which confirmed alcohol consumption.

Further legal action is being taken in the matter. Meanwhile, the injured cyclist has submitted an application at Sadar Police Station seeking registration of an FIR.

According to preliminary information, Santosh Kumar was driving the Dial 112 vehicle through the Ramdayalu area when it allegedly first struck a cyclist.

The cyclist, Shatrughan Rai, a resident of Baramatpur under the Sadar police station area, sustained serious injuries, including injuries to both legs. The vehicle subsequently collided with a motorcycle.

The motorcyclist, identified as Manish Kumar of Chak Chameli village under the Hajipur Sadar police station area of Vaishali district, escaped with minor injuries, but his motorcycle was badly damaged.

The incident led to a gathering of local residents, who raised an alarm and confronted the driver over allegations of drunk driving.

Locals informed the police, following which a Sadar Police team reached the spot and took Santosh Kumar into custody. Manish Kumar said he was travelling from his home in Hajipur to Muzaffarpur when he witnessed the Dial 112 vehicle hit the cyclist.

He said the emergency vehicle then struck his motorcycle with considerable force, causing extensive damage. Manish further alleged that when he and others confronted the driver following the accident, the driver used abusive language.

The situation was subsequently brought under control after police reached the spot and took the driver to the police station.

Muzaffarpur SSP Kantesh Kumar Mishra said the incident had come to the police’s notice and that the accused driver was being questioned.

He said further action would be taken in accordance with the law after completion of the investigation and that steps would be taken to seek judicial custody of the accused.

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Crime

3-year-old nursery student sexually assaulted at Delhi school; bus driver arrested

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New Delhi, Aug 31: A case involving the sexual assault of a three-year-old nursery student at a private school in Delhi Bawana has come to light. Police have arrested a school bus driver in connection with the incident, officials said on Monday.

The accused, identified as Vikas, had been working as a bus driver at the school for around eight months. According to police, he allegedly befriended the child by offering her chocolates and subsequently sexually abused her on multiple occasions.

Police arrested Vikas from the school premises after the child’s identity and allegations were established during the investigation.

The case came to light on the night of August 19, when the child’s family noticed injury marks on her body and became concerned about her condition.

When the child’s mother questioned her about what had happened, the girl reportedly spoke about a “bad uncle” at her school who used to give her chocolates. As the three-year-old was unable to identify the man by name, the family approached the school administration and sought its help in finding out who the person was.

On August 24, the child was shown photographs of school staff and CCTV footage from the school premises as part of efforts to identify the person she had mentioned. Police said the girl identified Vikas as the man she had referred to as the “bad uncle”.

Following the identification, the school informed the police about the matter. An FIR was subsequently registered under the relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, following which the accused school bus driver was arrested.

According to the allegations being investigated by police, the accused followed the girl when she was going towards the bathroom. He allegedly offered her chocolates and then touched her inappropriately under the stairs of the school.

During the investigation, police also seized the accused’s mobile phone. Officials said the device contained several videos showing him feeding chocolates to young children.

Police are now working to identify the children seen in those videos. The children are also being counselled as part of the ongoing investigation and to ensure their safety and well-being.

Investigators have also collected and seized CCTV footage from cameras installed at different locations on the school premises. The footage is being examined to establish the sequence of events and determine whether there were any other instances involving the accused.

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Crime

16-year-old gang-raped in moving sleeper bus in UP, abandoned at Delhi’s Kashmere Gate

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New Delhi, Aug 31: A 16-year-old girl was gang-raped inside an empty sleeper bus by its driver and conductor in Greater Noida earlier this month, police said on Monday, adding that both accused have been arrested in connection with the case.

According to police, the incident took place near Pari Chowk on August 4. The survivor alleged in her complaint that the two accused sexually assaulted her and threatened to kill her if she resisted. They later abandoned her near Kashmere Gate in Delhi.

The accused, identified as driver Kuldeep and conductor Sandeep, were arrested from a parking area in Timarpur on the same day.

Police have seized the bus and sent it for forensic examination. Investigators have also collected CCTV footage from the route taken by the bus as part of the probe. Police said the footage is being examined to establish the sequence of events and trace the movements of the vehicle.

The teenager is a resident of Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh. Police said she had left her home without informing her family after her mother reprimanded her over her studies. She was travelling to Noida Sector 63, where her cousin lives.

According to the girl’s statement to police, she mistakenly got down at Pari Chowk amid heavy rain and darkness. After realising that she had reached the wrong location, she tried to find another vehicle and eventually stopped the sleeper bus. Police said there were no passengers inside the bus at the time.

The conductor allegedly told the girl that the bus was heading towards NoidaSector 63, following which she boarded the vehicle. Police said the bus was actually returning empty after undergoing repairs at a workshop in Surajpur.

The girl alleged that soon after the bus began moving, the conductor started behaving inappropriately towards her. She further alleged that both men then sexually assaulted her and threatened to kill her if she resisted.

After the assault, the two accused abandoned the girl near Ring Road in Delhi’s Kashmere Gate and fled from the spot. She subsequently approached the police and reported the incident, following which an investigation was launched.

Kuldeep and Sandeep have been booked under charges relating to gang rape, kidnapping and assault.

Police said the sleeper bus had curtains covering the individual berths, which may have provided privacy inside the vehicle during the alleged crime.

As part of the forensic investigation, teams recovered strands of the girl’s hair from inside the bus. The vehicle has been seized, and forensic examination is being conducted to collect further evidence that could support the investigation.

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