The Weekly Observer, Vol 13, Issue 17

Observer The weekly

ursday, November 14, 2013

VOL 13 ISSUE 17

Muslims stage

Increased health

Three generations

hunger strike

risks due to fewer

of drug dealers

over holy ground

ASHA workers

busted by police

PAGE 2

PAGE 5

PAGE 4

Rally for free rice Congress MLA ST Somashekar.

According to Sanjeev Raj, a

food grains, however, is purely an

who attended was asked to produce

initiative of the Congress Party.”

the token in order to receive the

member of the Kumbalgodu

He added, “ere is no connec-

promised amount of rice. is is

Panchayat and the Congress

tion between the meeting and the

how the Party keeps a count on the

Party, the event, ‘Sahakara Sap-

distribution of rice. We are not

number of people who attended the

tah’ (Co-operation Week), is an

using this as a promotional gim-

event.”

annual one which provides food

mick. is is purely social work.”

grains and pensions to the poor and aged people in the area.

Swami, an auto-rickshaw driver

According to Jayamma, 67, a res-

from Kumbalgodu, said, “e

ident of Ramanagara, “e Chief

claims of the Congress that the dis-

Motamma, an elderly lady who

Minister promised to provide

tribution of rice is only for helping

attended the rally said, “When

monthly pensions worth Rs. 400 to

people are wrong. It is very evident

A local Congress worker hands out bags of rice to rally attendees they took us for the meeting we Bhaskar Dutta, they later exchanged for rice. were promised 20 kilograms of rice.

Mayuri J. Ravi & Pranay e rice was being distributed at However, aer the rally was over, Lakshminarasimhan

widows. He also told us to stay with

that this is done to attract votes in

the Congress Party and not cast our

the upcoming elections. “

She added that despite being

the BJP Prime Ministerial candi-

Hundreds of people were given

and a Panchayat member’s house in

Narayanamma, a resident of De-

promised more, she was only given

date Narendra Modi’s imminent

rice for attending a rally organ-

Kumbalgodu. e bags of rice were

vagere Colony, said, “e local Pan-

one kilogram of rice for attending

visit to the city.

ized by the Congress party.

branded with images of Karnataka

chayat members told us there was a

the rally.

a real estate office in Tagachaguppe

Ten bus-loads of villagers from

we were only given 5 kilograms.”

votes in favor of the Opposition.”

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and

meeting at Tavarekere which is 20-

and

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Com-

25 kilometers from Kumbalgodu. I

resident

Tagachaguppe were driven to Gol-

mittee President G. Parameshwara.

do not know how much rice I have

Kumbal-

larahatti on the NICE Road junc-

Some of those who attended

been given. We are just accepting

godu, said,

tion for the rally which was

spoke to the Observer and claimed

whatever we are being given.”

“When peo-

reportedly attended by more than

they had been promised 20kg of

Devaraj, the son of the Kumbal-

ple boarded

one lakh people.

rice but only received 5kg. One lady

godu Panchayat President, said “Sa-

the bus they

even complained she only got 1kg

hakara Saptah is a commemorative

were given a

of rice for attending.

Kumbalgodu,

Gollahalli

Although local Congress members maintained that the event was

Sushila, a of

event where we provide recognition

token. Aer

purely aimed at social upliment,

e rally was attended by Siddara-

to people who have been active so-

the

locals were handed tokens which

maiah, G. Parameshwara and local

cial workers. e distribution of

everyone

ML A owns death crash bus Anannya Sarkar & Bhavika Bhuwalka Seven people including three children died when a Volvo bus travelling from Bangalore to Mumbai caught fire on ursday morning.

It’s the second time in 15 days a Volvo coach travelling from Banga-

lore has caught fire.

Abdul Hamir, police inspector, Haveri Police Station, said the bus, owned by three-time MLA and exminister Zameer Ahmed Khan, hit the median at Haveri and caught fire. Mr Khan’s company has pledged Rs. 5lakh to victims.

Hamir said, “A family of five, with

e event comes in the wake of

rally,

A woman takes away bags of rice aer attending the rally

Photo credit: Rajendra Ritti

three children, died along with one of the bus drivers, Nawaz, who was sleeping on the floor. e identity of the seventh person is unknown.” e injured were rushed to Haveri District Hospital for treatment.

Continued on Page 5

The charred Bangalore-Mumbai National Travels bus

e Weekly Observer

ursday, 14 November , 2013

2

Muslims on hunger strike over holy ground

Protestors in Channapatna on hunger strike for Idgah Ground Anagha Sawant

the court. is is the second hunger

Protection Committee, names of

struction of the court, but in ex-

strike in the last two months.

the people involved in selling the

change they need money or prop-

According to the Idgah Maidan

property are Saleem Babu (Presi-

erty.

Protection Committee, members of

dent of Idgah Compound Con-

Anjankumar, Circle Inspector of

the Idgah Compound Construction

struction Committee), Yadulla

Channapatna, said: “Channapatna

Committe sold the land for busi-

Shah Qadri (Secretary), Sadath Ulla

is a sensitive area and communal

ness and political benefits.

Saqhaf,

Fayaz

tensions in this area are very com-

Janatha Shakeel, leader of Idgah

Choudri, Wasil Ali Khan, Meer

Saqhaf,

Aejaz,

mon. e main reason of the issue

Maidan Protection Committee

Mujahid Ali, Afsar Pasha, and

is the dissatisfaction of one com-

said: “e people have no rights to

Shabbir Ulla Baig (Memebers of the

mittee with regard to the transfer of

sell the ground. Every muslim has

Idgah Compund Construction

land done by another.”

a right on the Idgah ground. e

Committee).

e police official added that the

court had already given judgment

Abdul Hasib, member of the Al-

Idgah Maidan Protection Commu-

Channapatna’s muslim commu-

formed by local muslims coming

on the property of Idgah ground in

falfa Muslim Education Trust said:

nity has given a letter to the Tahsil-

nity is on hunger strike for the

together, is now divided into two

2005.”

“e property is used for religious

dar stating that they want their land

second time this year in a bid to

groups- the Idgah Maidan Protec-

e Karnataka State Board of

purpose. ey cannot sell the land

back. ey are ready to give the

recover holy ground they claim

tion Committee and the Idgah

Wakf had written a letter to the

which is used for religious pur-

total amount of money they in-

was sold from under them.

Compound Construction Commit-

Land Acquisition Officer of Ram-

pose.”

vested on the construction site to

tee.

nagaram in 2009 stating that in

According to the letter given to

Karnataka State Government has constructed

the

construct the court.

Channapatna

e Idgah Maidan Protection

1994 they gave the land to the Idgah

the District Administration by Mo-

He added, “e protesters are not

Court on Idgah ground, which was

Committee on Tuesday started a

Compound Construction Commit-

hamed Saleem, President of the

interested in talking to the police.

earlier used for religious activity by

hunger strike in front of the taluk

tee to perform prayers (namaaz)

Idgah Compund Construction

e strike is going peacefully, there

muslims locals.

head office opposing the state gov-

and other religious activities.

Committee, they are ready to give

is no violence exhibited by the pro-

the Idgah ground property for con-

testers till now.”

e community, which was

ernment’s order for construction of

According to the Idgah Maidan

Traffic controller stabbed, accused on the run Mysore Rd site of 268 accidents in 12 weeks Mayuri J. Ravi

they haven’t found any proof against Put-

Anannya Sarkar

A BMTC bus driver cum conductor al-

tamadhu. e investigation is still going

Over 250 accidents occurred on the Mysore

legedly attempted to murder a traffic

on and they are yet to nab the culprit.

Road between August 2013and October 31, the

controller at the Bidadi bus stand on

Sheshadri said, “e day the incident

Rajarajeswari Hospital revealed.

took place there weren’t many people at

e medical records department of the hospital

S V Sheshadri, 54, a traffic controller at

the bus stand and it was too dark. A

claimed that on average five cases of accidents

the Bidadi bus station, said: “I received

passerby saw me lying on the ground

come to them every day.

Sunday night.

complaints from the

and immediately took me to

State Highway 17, also known as the Mysore

public stating that the

Rajarajeshwari Hospital. e

Road, has always had a reputation for being an ac-

conductor,

Putta-

doctor said that I am out of

cident-prone zone. A number of extremely dan-

madhu does not issue

danger and was discharged on

gerous accidents have taken place on this stretch,

tickets to the passen-

Tuesday.”

killing many but the most deadly and recent one

gers and troubles the

He added, “ere are other

was on September 9 when a military truck ran

treated at Rajarajeswari Hospital, the Kengeri Traf-

school and college

conductors also like him who

over four people, killing them all on the spot. e

fic Police Station has a record of only 30 such ac-

students by not giving

do not follow rules. Strict ac-

driver is currently in prison and has been charge

cidents.

them the daily pass. I

tion should be taken against

sheeted in court.

took up this issue

him.”

with the higher authorities.”

On being asked about the disparity in the figures,

Muniyamma, 40, died in May as she succumbed

a traffic cop stationed at Kengeri who did not want

Raghavendra Rao, Depot

to her injuries aer being hit by a car on this road.

to be named said that all accidents happening on

Manager said, “e accused

She suffered serious injuries to her ribs and back.

the Mysore Road are not registered with them. He

He added: “e conductor thought that

had some personal problems with the

ipaiah, 80, also died in May aer he was hit by

added that their police station alone could not do

I was making all this up to put him in

victim which is why he attacked him. It

a truck on the same stretch. Muniraju, 32, fell off

much to avert accidents.

trouble. On Sunday night at 8.20, when

is not because the public complained

a bike aer it was hit by a car near the Nice Road

I was at the bus stand, he came towards

against the conductor. e public is

toll-gate. He died in August.

me with a knife in his hand. He pierced

nowhere involved in the case”

Wounded: SV Sheshadri

According to him, they have taken all possible measures such as keeping vigilance on the road,

Manjula, 26, was unconscious for ten weeks aer

patrol the roads to catch two-wheelers without

it on the le side of my chest, right

e case has been registered at the

she was hit by a bus on October 10 and is now suf-

proper documents and helmets and to deal with

shoulder and my face. He threatened to

Bidadi police station and is under inves-

fering from chronic back pain. Mukudhan, 50,

drunken driving strictly. He added that they have

kill me if I complained to the police.”

tigation. e accused has been booked

met with an accident on November 6 which re-

asked the government for construction of more

for attempt to murder under Section 307

sulted in an orthopedic surgery.

speed-breakers along the road as most of these ac-

T Mariswamayya, Assistant Sub Inspector, Bidadi police station, said that

of the Indian Penal Code.

Compared to the 268 cases that have been

cidents happen due to rash driving.

ursday, November 14, 2013 3

e Weekly Observer

‘Doctor cut my wrong leg’ Nibedita Mohanta

when we asked him about it, he said

Bhaskar denied what the doctor

A Bangalore laborer claims his

that there was severe gangrene for-

said aer his surgery and said that

doctor amputated the wrong leg

mation on the right leg as well so he

his right limb was perfect. He

but medics say they saved his life.

cut the right leg in an emergency

claimed that he was still having dif-

and the le one was untouched.”

ficulty in walking with the le leg.

Bhaskar, 62, a building construction contact laborer from Devegere,

Dr. Rohit, Senior General Sur-

e doctor who performed the

said that in his late 50s he came to

geon, Rajarajeshwari Hospital, said:

operation denied the statement

know that he was diabetic but due

“ere are two aspects of diagnosis,

made by Bhaskar and said that his

to a financial crisis he could not af-

one is medical and the other is sur-

diagnosis says that there was severe

ford to take medicines and proper

gery. Once the medical expert diag-

formation of gangrene in his right

care of his health, as he was the only

noses the problem and says it is

limb as well and that he had to cut

earning member of his family.

serious, he refers the case to the

it off to prevent it from spreading to

He added that in 2011 he met

surgical ward, where the problem is

other parts of the body. He added

with an accident and badly hurt his

diagnosed again and further deci-

that he has been practising for 10

le leg. e worst part was that the

sions are taken. Gangrene due to

years now and he has never made

wound was not healing aer nu-

diabetes is formed when the tissues

such a mistake.

merous treatments.

die in a specific part of the body

Bhaskar said, “My wounds have

He finally went to a private clinic

and develop bacteria, which leads

not healed and are getting aggra-

for a diagnosis where the doctor

to clostridia because of the gas pro-

vated with every passing day. It

said that the wound was developing

duced by the bacteria and oen

looks like I will have to get the other

into gangrene which could lead to

gives out a foul smell. Gradually

leg amputated as well. I will be ren-

the amputation of the limb.

that particular part of the skin turns

dered invalid for life. Also, even if

Girish, Bhaskar’s son, said, “Dr.

pale and then it turns red or brown

this gangrene is a threat to my life,

Chandrashekhar, who runs a pri-

and finally greenish. e person

I cannot afford another surgery.”

vate clinic, diagnosed the wound on

loses sense in that part. And then to

Bhaskar having lost his right leg,

his le limb and suggested to cut

prevent the spread of gangrene to

has also lost his means of livelihood

the leg from above the knee, but

other parts of the body, that part is

and is scared of losing his other

aer the operation we found that

removed from the body.”

limb as well.

the doctor has cut his right leg, and

When asked about the symptoms,

Bhaskar claims the wrong leg was cut off during an op

Alarming trend of oral poisoning in Kumbalgodu Bhaskar Dutta

since August 2013. Most of these

ere have been over a hundred

cases have occurred in and around

registered cases of oral poisoning

Kengeri and Kumbalgodu.

2013.

Fiy of these have been successful suicide attempts.

Vanaja, 15, attempted to kill herself by consuming poisonous agricultural implements.

solved family disputes.

Commenting on the remedial measures taken by the hospital in

Statistics provided by the Kar-

According to Mr. Ramachan-

Asha, a 17- year- old girl from

nataka State Crime Records Bu-

dran, the officer in charge of the

Ramnagara attempted suicide by

said: “All such cases are referred to

reau show that 85 people have

Medical Records Department of

consuming insect -killing poison

the psychiatric department for

by the Rajarajeswari Hospital in

died due to poisoning in the Ban-

Rajarajeswari Hospital, the princi-

aer fighting with her mother.

counseling. In this way we hope to

Kumbalgodu, 114 cases of oral

galore District in the period be-

pal reason behind the large num-

Gulnaaz, 20, attempted suicide

poisoning have been registered

tween January and September

ber of registered poisoning cases

by consuming acid aer a family

in this area is owing to unresolved

dispute.

in a city hospital in the last three months.

According to records provided

family disputes.

Several of these cases involve

Statistics of people who died of oral poisoning in last three months

officer in charge of the casualty department of the hospital, cited a

and thirty.

number of reasons behind the large number of oral poisoning

herself by consuming toilet clean-

cases that have been registered in

ing fluid. Her medical records at

the hospital.

the Rajarajeswari Hospital are reg-

prevent this trend from rising.”

Dr. Subramaniam, the medical

women between the ages of fieen Reshma, 17, attempted to kill

order to tackle the problem, he

According to him these incidents

istered under the category of cor-

occur due to a combination of so-

rosive acid poisoning.

cial pressure, love affairs and unre-

Mr Ramachandran of Rajarajeshwari Hospital

e Weekly Observer

ursday, November 14, 2013

4

Staff shortage threatens lives

Jaiveer with his mother Anita Aurosmita Acharya

sion provides for one ASHA for a

Lala Singh, Jaiveer’s father, said:

with Apollo Hospital, said: “Jaun-

have been to hospitals like- Rajara-

population of 1000 while the Bidadi

“When my wife was pregnant with

dice in a new born can happen

jeshwari,

Panchayat has been assigned with

my second child, the ASHA work-

when there is a higher concentra-

drasekhar Institute of Speech and

eight Accredited Social Health Ac-

ers never visited us. Neither did

tion of Bilirubin in blood. Condi-

Hearing and others but it has not

tivists (ASHAs) for a population of

they visit us aer the birth of Jai.

tions where there is a rapid break

helped us much. We realize that as

15, 886.

NIMHANS,

Chan-

But they had come twice to our

down of hemoglobin can cause

he grows up it is certainly going to

Somsekhar, a resident of Bidadi,

home on our third child’s birth and

jaundice. ey usually appear

get difficult for us to manage Jai.

said: “e ASHA workers are irreg-

were there during her birth as well.”

within 24 hrs of birth and the ba-

But as parents we are trying to pro-

bies become rapidly sick.”

vide him all possible treatment we

ular in reaching us. We had no help

Sujata, the ASHA worker in-

from them for our eldest child but

charge of the area, said that it be-

He added, “Higher concentration

they reached us for our second

comes impossible for eight of them

of Billirubin can cross blood brain

Anima Mishra, Lecturer for

child only once.”

to monitor such a huge population.

barrier and affect the brain which

Speech Language Pathology at the

e case of five-year-old Jaiveer,

She added, “It takes us at least one

causes convulsions initially and

Chandrasekhar Institute of Speech

who is suffering from mental and

hour to monitor one household.

cause mental and physical retarda-

and Hearing, said that such chil-

physical retardation is presently

Apart from monitoring pregnant

tion in future. e most common

dren exhibit delays in developmen-

being taken care of by the Angan-

women and new born babies the

conditions are Rh incompatibility,

tal milestones and belong to the

wadi near the Bidadi bus stop,

government also assigns us with the

heriditary spherocytosis, sepsis and

group of multiple- handicaps. e

stands out.

duty of collecting census data. is

metabolic disorder. In the patient

rehabilitation of such children is a

makes our work as ASHA workers

concerned here, it could be sepsis

multidisciplinary process.

more difficult and hectic.”

or metabolic disorder.

Vani, the Anganwadi in-charge said, “e ASHA workers were not

can.”

She added, “e treatment is pro-

Lack of Accredited Social Health

able to provide the nutrient supple-

e medical reports of Jaiveer

Vani said that monitoring during

vided based upon developing func-

Activists (ASHAs) has increased

ments, diagnosis and right advice at

state that he suffers from delayed

the pregnancy and post-pregnancy

tional communication skills along

health problems in pregnant

the right time which led to the child

speech and language with develop-

period is indeed crucial. It is impor-

with treatment for slurring of

women and newly born children

suffering from Jaundice fever lead-

ment delay and cerebral palsy.

tant to have pro-active ASHA

speech due to neurological damage

in Bidadi.

ing to permanent mental and phys-

Dr. Subrat Mishra, Pediatric

workers and neo-natal care.

and difficulty in feeding and swal-

iological retardation of the child.”

Neonatologist, formerly working

e National Rural Health Mis-

Anita, Jaiveer’s mother, said: “We

lowing.”

Denied rights, forced to live as slum-dwellers Neha Singh

deprived of water, electricity, and

to the land.

Rathnamma and others

e people of a slum in Ramana-

sanitation arrangements, all of

On the other hand, they have

from the slum said that

gara have been denied basic

which the government is required

been provided with Below Poverty

they are being discrimi-

facilities and face social discrimi-

to provide to households.

Level cards and voter ID cards on

nated against by the resi-

the address they are living cur-

dents who live near their

rently.

huts. She added that they

nation from fellow residents.

Rathnamma, a slum dweller at Rayara Doddi,

She said, “When we approached the concerned department to pro-

said that they

vide us with water, electricity and

Shivamma, another slum dweller,

bring water from a tap

shied there 25 years ago, when the

build toilets and drainage, they re-

said that all women from the slum

nearby, access to which

government gave them a space

fused to provide us with anything

had once marched up to Vidhan

was not allowed by the

above the canal to build houses and

until we provided them a proof that

Soudha, demanding that the papers

residents

settle down.

the land belongs to us.”

before

they

and their rights to the land be given

forcibly started taking

According to her, 50 houses in the

She added that at the time of the

to them. She added that at the time

water.

slum have been facing similar prob-

settlement they were not given any

of the march, 12 years ago, she was

She said that she is not

lems for the past 25 years. ey are

documents supporting their right

eight months pregnant with her

even allowed to put sheets

second daughter.

on the rooops of their

According to Shivamma, a man

Chanajamma with her eight goats tied beside her hut.

huts.

e18-year-old mother was married at16

came forward to help them file a

She said that the other residents

around the slum dwellers, they said

case in the high court aer their

offend them by addressing them as

that the land does not belong to the

protest march.

‘slum-dwellers’. She added that

government. It’s, in fact, a private

Rathnamma told e Observer

Chanajamma, with her four family

property owned by a person called

that once a house in the slum was

members and eight goats, has to

Shivaswamy.

demolished and burnt by municipal

stay in a small hut because the res-

Shivaswamy refused to comment

officials. But when the municipal

idents there do not let them tie her

on this matter and said, “e case is

authorities were questioned with

goats outside the house.

in court, and I am not going to

regard to this, they denied their in-

On asking the municipal officials

volvement with any such incident.

regarding the issues revolving

speak anything about it.”

e Weekly Observer

ursday, November 14, 2013

MLA’s bus company pledges 5 lakh to bus crash victims (continued from page 1)

e

National

Travels

Bhavika Bhuwalka

Tehsildar

Ravi’s

Police claim they have ended three

report, who is also

generations of drug dealing with

an eye witness of

is fine with only minor injuries.”

the arrest of two notorious crimi-

the case, regis-

nals.

tered a FIR on the

sengers who are critical have

Naveen, head constable, Ramana-

same day. Ravi in-

been shied to Kings Hospital

gram Urban Police Station, said that

vestigated the site

in Hubli.

Kaleem Bin Gafar, 27, was caught in

with

On being asked for Zameer

his apartment in Yarabnagar with 2.3

officers,

Ahmed Khan’s number, e

kilograms of cannabis and cash

drashekhar

Observer was told that he was

worth Rs. 10,340 on November 16,

Prakash.

currently at the site of the acci-

2011.

dent and had forgotten to take

Zameer Ahmed Khan

Arrests end three generations of crime clan

compensation. Everybody else He added that five of the pas-

His friend Amjad who was also in-

panchayat Chanand

Ravi

said:

“Kaleem

was

volved in the business, fled the sight

caught in front of

He added that the Transport

and was caught one year later in

me.

Minister, Ramalinga Reddy,

2012. ey are currently booked

catching Amjad

was at the site of the accident

under the Narcotics Drugs and Psy-

but he fled.” An

along with his brother and that

chotropic Substances Act.

absconding

his phone. bus

started from Kalasipalayam at 8pm yesterday and reached Haveri by 3am. ere were a total of 55 passengers onboard.

the government has declared a

Both men will be tried in court on

charge sheet was

Zameer Ahmed Khan has

compensation of one lac for the

January 16 next year. Police say their

filed against him

families of the deceased.

conviction will end a long family tra-

and he was out on anticipatory bail

dition of criminality.

from the High Court.

previously had court cases of dacoity, forgery and dishonestly

However the Transport Com-

inducing delivery of property

missioner, on being contacted,

Naveen said that Amjad’s family has

against him though he has not

said that he had no knowledge

been convicted in any yet.

Vinayak, Casuality in-charge, said, “43 people are being

5

We

Special

tried

A constable with the seized packet of Cannabis

investigation

A 100 gram sample of the confiscated drug was sent to the Forensic

officer,

Science Laboratory for testing.

been selling drugs for three genera-

Sateesh, said: “We have successfully

Forensic officer, Mallesh, said that the

of anything pertaining to the

tions. His father, Ganja Afeez from

caught the culprits. Now it is up to

sample tested by him turned positive

accident and that he was cur-

Mehboobnagar, got the name be-

the court to finally convict the ac-

for cannabis.

rently on leave.

cause he is well known in the smug-

cused. e house was sealed and is

treated for minor burns and in-

e police said that they are

gling industry. He had two cases

under surveillance since.”

juries. As of now we only have

currently at the site of the acci-

registered against him and Amjad’s

Kaleem in his statement said that he

one critical patient admitted.”

Mohammed Rafiq alias Ganja Rafiq is another family member against whom more than one case is regis-

dent, investigating the case. Ac-

younger brother, Ayub Khan, also has

is the fourth son in the family and

Shakeel Ahmed, his brother

cording to Shakeel, Muzaheed,

a case against him. Afeez had five

works in the silk business. He has a

Sateesh said: “e business is oper-

and one of the partners in the

the driver who was driving is at

sons and all of them have criminal

habit of smoking and gambling and

ated by a huge gang. From 2011 to

company, said that 27 people

present absconding.

records against them.

the money he makes from silk is not

2013, 14 cases regarding the issue

sufficient for his needs. He sells 50

have come up. Drugs are a major

grams of cannabis for Rs. 100.

market and college students are their

have been sent to Mumbai in a

In a similar incident two

Naveen said: “College students

super deluxe bus and the rest

weeks ago, a Bangalore-Hyder-

come on bikes and buy packets of

are returning to Bangalore.

abad Volvo bus had caught fire

drugs from such sellers. e issue is

in

of national concern.”

He added,“e families of the dead will be given five lacs as

Mahabubnagar,

Andhra

Pradesh, killing 45 people.

e police seized all the drug packets from Yarabnagar and based on

tered regarding illegal drug selling.

According to Sateesh, the drug

main consumers. ings like brown

smuggling business is inter-state,

sugar, ganja (cannabis) and afeem

with the dealers based in Mumbai

(opium) are bought by students in

and Andhra Pradesh.

Bangalore.”

Clash between landlord and govt leaves 60 families homeless Chitharth Mathivanan

20 years, said: “ere is some prob-

village said, “More than forty fami-

Sixty families were le homeless

lem between the government offi-

lies le the village and settled in

as the construction of their houses

cials and the village landlord. e

nearby Tagachaguppe village.”

under a government scheme was

landlord influenced the officials to

When asked about the landlord,

halted by a local landlord.

drop the plan. We are living in huts;

Ramesh said: “What will you do if I

People of Ramayanapaliya village

there is no electricity and toilet. We

say the name. Are you people going

in Kumbalgodu who were prom-

have complained a number of times

to change our fate?”

ised houses under Indhira Awaas

to the officials but the village land-

Yojana scheme on 2008, are still liv-

lord is preventing the officials.

ing in huts on the allotted lands.

He added: “Even two years ago,

Miswasannappa said, “e government keeps changing but we still live in dark.”

Even though the construction of

the panchayat officials conducted a

e Panchayat Executive Officer,

houses was approved and funds

survey of the land where the houses

commenting on the issue, said: “I

are supposed to be constructed. But

am new to this village. I don’t know

still there is no improvement.”

anything about this problem. I will

were allotted, the process was stalled by a local land lord who claims that the land belongs to him.

Ramayanapaliya villagers have lived in tents for the past 30 years Miswasannappa, who has been

living in the village for more than

Ramesh, another resident of the

look into this matter.”

e Weekly Observer

ursday, November 14, 2013

Kumbalgodu, a dumpyard for city’s solid waste bility of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to clean it up.”

He added: “Such huge amounts of debris cause water percolation and when it rains, the drainage system of the area is severely affected. The debris mixes with the surrounding air and contaminates it.

Breathing the same air can cause serious breathing problems and lung infections.”

Krishna, whose cigarette shop is located very close to a huge pile of debris, said: “Almost every day trucks full of debris come here and unload what all they Huge pile of debris lying beside Mysore Road have. No-one cleans it. Some of the deIshan Bhattacharya bris is produced by factories nearby, the rest Concrete debris regularly brought from the comes from the city.” city is dumped illegally in Kumbalgodu.

Nagesh Gowda, a security guard stationed The debris is produced after destruction of beside a similar pile of concrete waste, said buildings or by construction work going on in that the debris belonged to the factories. He the city. Dumping it in Kombalgudu poses a added that the factories dumped it there bethreat to the surrounding environment of the cause the land belonged to them. area, which is a part of Bangalore’s green belt.

Section 34 of the Indian Police Act states Ullash Kumar, a Bangalore based environ- that dumping debris on the highway is a punmentalist, said: “The debris that is disposed in ishable offence and that any person indulging Kumbalgodu comes mainly from the city. In in such activity can be imprisoned for a peorder to keep the city from getting dirtier, all riod of six months. the debris is dumped there. It is the responsiUday Kumar, senior environmental officer at

KSPCB, said that it is illegal to dump concrete waste on the highway. He added that it was the BBMP’s responsibility to address this issue and find a solution.

Kotresh, environmental officer in-charge of the Kengeri-Kumbalgodu region, KSPCB, said: “We do not handle such issues. It is the responsibility of BBMP, BDA and the Planning Authority to handle such things. Our department is industrial waste. Those who produce the concrete waste pay money to the Planning Authority and not us.”

Nataraj, superintendent engineer, BBMP, in charge of solid waste management, said: “Our jurisdiction is till Nice Road, after that point the responsibility is shouldered by the Zilla Panchayat. We do not take any money from those who produce the debris. I think Mr. Kotresh does not have knowledge regarding the limit of our jurisdiction.”

He added: “They dump debris in the night when there is no police patrolling. If they are caught red handed, they will be punished.

Even if they dump solid waste in the morning, it is very difficult to catch them because the vehicles in which they bring debris mostly do not have any number plates.”

Intimidated by wife’s past, auto driver murders friend Karishma Ravindran

under the influence of alcohol attended the tour-

A man charged with murdering his friend in

nament where Yogesh was present and again

cold blood will make another appearance in

bugged him speaking ill about Yatish and his

court on Friday.

wife.

Yogesh, 23, alias Koli, murdered his 25-year-old

e Police said: “Since Yogesh wanted to put an

friend Girish alias Giri Gowda on February 23,

end to it, he decided to kill the Girish. Once, he

2013 in Byrapatna village of Channapatna taluk,

took him to a nearby wine shop and got him

the police said.

drunk. Soon aer he took Girish on a friend’s

He will be present in the Ramanagara session court for the fourth hearing of the case.

Events MUSIC

Bacardi NH7 Weekender '13 e Bacardi NH7 Weekender returns to your city for the second year!

Venue: Embassy International Riding School, # 149/2 and 223, Taruhunse Village, Jal Hobli, Taluk, Dist. 562157 , Devanahalli.

Date: Nov. 23 to Nov. 24, 2013

DANCE

Prayog Prayog will feature three choreographies – “Matsyaangnaa”, and Trishanku” choreographed

by Madhuri Upadhya and “Chakra” choreographed by Sathya BG. Venue: Chowdiah Memorial Hall, 16th Cross, Vyalikaval , Malleshwaram.

Date: Nov. 22, 2013 Time: 8 PM onwards

ART

bike to a water pump house and hurled abusives at each other”.

According to Channapatna East Police Station,

According to the police, the incident occurred

Yogesh fell in love with a girl named Vijayalakshi

at 10:15pm, when Girish died on the spot aer

who hailed from the same village and got mar-

he was hit by a huge stone, which was picked up

ried in the year 2011.

from the front of the water house, by Yogesh.

e deceased came to know about Yatish who

e accused fled from the spot and was ab-

was once in love with Vijyalakshmi from Girish.

sconding for two days until the police caught him

He bugged Yogesh several times speaking ill

in Hongamur on Febraury 26, a village five kilo-

about his wife and telling him about having a re-

meter away from Byrapatna.

lationship with Yatish in the past.

6

e accused in his statement written to the po-

Yogesh, the accused who murdered Girish. eventually lost my cool and murdered him since I feared that my image would be tainted in the

e police said that altercations occurred be-

lice, said, “Girish, the deceased and I were com-

tween them soon aer. During a cricket tourna-

panions from the past eight years and he bugged

Yogesh was arrested on February 26, 2013 for

ment in the same village, the deceased who was

me several times speaking ill about my wife. I

murder and causing disappearance of evidence.

village where I lived.”

Karen Knorr - India Song Photographic series, India Song,

by London-based artist Karen Knorr in Bangalore.

Venue: Sua House , Lavelle Road Date: Nov. 30, 2013 Time: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Observer Team: Reporters– Anand Jain & Bhavika Bhuwalka Emergency Call Services & Online Tracker– Nibedita Mohanta Proof Reader– Pranay Lakshminarasimhan & Bhaskar Dutta News Editors– Anannya Sarkar & Ishan Bhattacharya Design Desk– Karishma Ravindran Sub Editors– Anagha Sawant, Aurosmita Acharya, Chitharth Mathivanan & Neha Singh Splash Head– NikitaChief Sub Editor– Gaurav Kumar Editor- Apurva Venkat Email– editor@iijnm.org An IIJNM Publication (For Private Circulation)