The Weekly Observer, Vol 13, Issue 22

VOL 13 ISSUE 22

ursday, January 23, 2014

Traders protest at Freedom Park demanding increase in daily wage.

Sunita Maheshwari criticises emergency services in the city.

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French rape accused breached bail with Christmas Day visit Anannya Sarkar e French consul employee charged with raping his own daughter attempted to visit her on Christmas Day, in a clear breach of his bail conditions.

Accompanied by a group of police officers, Pascal Mazurier, the principal accused in the case, arrived at the home of his estranged wife and asked to meet his children.

A police officer from Yelahanka Police Station pleaded with Mazurier’s wife on the diplomat’s behalf, according to estranged wife Suja, citing “humanitarian grounds” as the reason she should allow the children to see their father and grandmother, who was also present. e visit, in clear breach of bail conditions which state that he should not approach any of his children while the case is ongoing, angered estranged wife Suja who has complained to the police commissioner.

Sources at the Public Prosecutor’s office confirmed he was forbidden from seeing his children, under the terms of his bail.

Mazurier told e Weekly Observer that he had gone to Suja’s home but clarified that he did not negotiate with his wife himself.

Speaking about the incident, Mazurier said that he had allowed the officers to act on his

behalf and when the request was refused he le without incident.

Mazurier, accused by his wife of raping his three-year-old daughter, was seeking the dismissal of all charges as he had said that there was no evidence to substantiate that he was guilty of the offence.

However, a Sessions Court passed an order against him on January 6. e order read: “Accused is not entitled for discharge. ere are sufficient materials to go for trial.”

Suja Jones, Mazurier’s wife, speaking exclusively to e Weekly Observer, said that her husband, along with about seven cops from Yelahanka Police Station, arrived at her house on Christmas Day to meet the children.

He was also accompanied by his mother.

Jones refused to let them meet the children though the cops argued on Mazurier’s behalf saying that she should give consent as it was Christmas.

According to the Public Prosecutor’s office, under the bail conditions, Mazurier is not allowed to meet any of the children, as one is the victim and the

other two are witnesses. Also, anybody who wants to meet the children has to get prior permission from the court, which was not sought before Christmas.

“I was really angry. I asked them if they realize that he is accused of raping my daughter and you have got him to meet the children. ey kept at it for about 45 minutes and I had to keep explaini n g t o

them that I could not allow this”, said

Jones.

“I had to lock my children in the house and asked them not to open the door while I went to the complex gate to talk to these cops. ey kept saying that it was a request as it was Christmas. e children were scared and the neighbors kept asking me about it. e police got the accused right up to my doorstep”, she added.

According to Mazurier, there is nothing in the bail order to prevent him from meeting his children.

“My wife is in contempt of court. at case is in the High Court right now. I am not breaking the law, Suja is. She is hiding the children from everybody. My parents are allowed to meet all the children.

She does not care about what the children want.”

She later lodged a com-

plaint with the Commissioner of

Timeline June 19, 2012: Pascal Mazurier arrested October 17, 2012: Granted bail November 2012 : Pascal Mazurier filed a complaint with the police seeking a probe into his daughter’s rape, saying that he wants the actual culprit to be caught.

January 6, 2013 : Court affirms that he will be tried January 24 : Charges to be framed against him.

Police requesting action against the Yelahanka Police.

No action has been taken as of yet.Jones said: “While the cops were at my complex gate, a senior officer from the police station kept calling me to convince me to allow Mazurier and his mother to meet the children and said that it was an informal request.”

Jones added that the last time Mazurier’s parents had met the children in February, they had said that the children looked, ‘drugged, over-weight and dirty.’

‘

“My wife is in contempt of court. at case is in the High Court right now. I am not breaking the law, Suja is. She is hiding the children from everybody.

My parents are allowed to meet all the children. She does not care about what the children want.”

-Pascal Mazurier contd to page 3

The Weekly

Observer

ursday, January 23,2014

Students stuffed like sardines in autos

Students of St Teresa’s School cramming into one of many autos Chitharth Mathivanan Students of a prominent school in the city risk their lives every day as dozens of them are made to travel in auto-rickshaws which are legally permitted to transport only six children at a time.

It is a common sight to see auto-rickshaws stuffed with more than 12 children during and aer hours at St. Teresa’s Girls High School. e Indian Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Karnataka Motor Vehicle Rules 1989, clearly state that while three adults are permitted to travel in an auto, not more than six children can travel in an auto at any given time. e principal of the school, Sister Pauline said, “is is not our responsibility, we had a meeting with the parents of these children. We insist that they stop sending their children in such vehicles which break the law by carrying more people than they should.”

According to her the parents of these children were unwilling to listen to her advice or follow proper legal procedures as far as the transportation of their children was concerned. “e parents are aware that the children are being sent to school in such a dangerous way”, she adds.

Commenting on the issue, the Police Sub-Inspector, Traffic, Chamarajpet, said, “If we find autos which carry more than six students or Maruti vans which carry more than 10 children, we shall impose fines of Rs. 2000 and 3000 respectively.”

“We have already told the St.Teresa school to provide buses to the students in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines but they are unwilling to take such measures. We are well aware of the risk involved when so many children are made to travel in a single auto-rickshaw. e parents of these children should take note of this and arrange for better transport for their children”, he adds.

Dhanraj, 30, the father of a 9- year- old girl who is studying in the school said,” Last year, like other parents, I also sent my daughter in an auto which carries more than 10 children.

However, aer seeing the danger involved I decided to stop sending her to school in an auto.

From the start of this academic year I began to drop her off and pick her up myself.

He added, “ese kinds of autos should be banned and the school management must provide buses for their students.”

Despite repeated attempts auto drivers refused to comment on the issue.

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City in dire need of proper emergency services says pioneering medical expert Rahul Sadhu Sunita Maheshwari, eminent pediatric cardiologist and founder of Teleradiology Solutions, a firstof-its kind medical outsourcing company in India, commented on the poor state of emergency services in Bangalore at a conference on national health care.

Speaking at the ‘National Conference on Healthcare in the 21st Century’ held at the Institute of Health Management Research, Maheshwari said: “Bangalore is well developed as far as infrastructure is concerned but in term of emergency services it is very poorly developed. Access to hospitals in emergency conditions is one area where Bangalore needs to develop.”

Maheshwari highlighted the importance of new innovations and technologies and how Indian society could benefit from it.

According to her the problems which plague the healthcare scenario in the country could be easily solved if resources were properly used.

Commenting on recent innovations in the national health framework Maheshwari says, “ere are a lot of solutions that are available. For example, the 12th Five-Year Plan allocated Rs 15 crore to the field of telemedicine, but this sum was not used properly. Innovation is one aspect, but it is also important that it must be used properly to reap

benefits from it.”

Presently Maheshwari is working on a module of telemedicine that is applicable in the Indian context, particularly in rural areas.

She says, “Innovations like telemedicine can be really helpful in rural area but if such a concept is to work, a sustainable model has to be developed. is has not happened. Most telemedicine centers in India see four to five patients a day. It will never become sustainable in this way.”

She added: “is is where the government also has a role to play, especially in the policies it makes and in the training of young minds. As far as delivering health care is concerned the government has failed miserably, to put it lightly. e government needs to understand that the entire medical scenario has changed and must adapt itself to the changing trends by developing newer policies.”

Rxdx and Teleradiology Solutions, which outsources medical services in India, is the first company of its kind in the country.

Maheshwari, who was also the Editor of the Pediatric Cardiac Society,

was educated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, and Yale University, Connecticut.

She was also one of the few people selected to meet American President Barack Obama during his visit in 2010 because of her contribution in the field of teleradiology and medical outsourcing.

Applying teleradiology in India and making it work in the country wasn’t an easy job for her.

She says, “Initially it was quite a challenge. People were not open to such new versions of technology where a patient could be treated without the doctor examining them personally.”

She added, that like telemedicine, teleradiology will also keep growing. But what must be kept in mind is developing skilled doctors and training them to operate the new technologies successfully.

Speaking about her interactions with Obama she said, “What we consider routine, he found innovative. He always wanted to know what India as a nation was doing to develop new technologies and what kind of innovative practices India is executing.”

She concluded the interview by saying that, “Despite the numerous drawbacks India will work its way out.

Technologies have improved.”

Nightlife or lights out? Bangaloreans divided over late-night drinks extension Aurosmita Acharya e government has been considering a proposal for an extension of the night life in Bangalore. e Observer team found out what the citizens of Bangalore think about it.

T. W. Sudhakar, director of India Tourism said, “There should be an extension in night-life time.

What night life do we have right now in Banglore, it is all restricted. there is a lot of world heritage in Karnataka and Bangalore is the gateway for tourist.”

He added, “Tourists who T.W. Sudhakar come here might want to dine and enjoy outside at night. The move will help tourism flourish. All rules and regulations should me made tourism friendly.“

Ankur, Photographer: Glad bangalore's govt. is considering extending Chandan, App Developer: Govt night life deadline from 11.30 pm to wants to extend Bangalore nightlife, cops wary - Congress Election Plan : 1.00 am!

Gautam John, Lawyer : The City Extended Nightlife Deadline Coincides With Rise In Liquor Prices.

Amit Malviya, Banker: In another world, @kiranshaw & @MDPai05 continue to push Bangalore to become another Delhi, unsafe for women & flys!

Sashi Sekhar, Chief Digital Officer at Niti Digital: How about securing DayLife first? Increasing lawlessness and drunk driving RT.

Ramesh, an Assistant Lawyer: Keeping open the bars is not a decision which I admire, it will lead to Viva Kermani, Socialite: For the youngsters getting drunk and late night brawls. myriad of issues facing this city, Mohandas Pai wants Bangalore to ex- Suman, Works in high court: It is not a good tend its nightlife. thing; keeping the bars open won’t do any good to the society.

Jairaj P, Businessman: Cheers! That dreaded ‘Last Order’ hour to be pushed past midnight!

Rajeev Gowda, Professor: Govt wants to extend Bangalore nightlife deadline! Progressive move by CM.

Ashenai, resident: My response to the yet another move to extend nightlife in Bangalore: "I'll believe it when I believe it" (channeling the great Yogi Berra Seno Aldinata, an Indonesian residing in Bangalore: Excise department eyes Rs 500cr spike in daily revenue: BANGALORE: Extend nightlife by two hours in the city.

Closing time for nightlife in global party cities: Washington 3 AM New York 1 AM Rome

2 AM

Austria

4 AM

Paris

2 AM

Qubec

3 AM

Japan

24/7

Dominian Republic

2 AM

Boston

2 AM

Ireland London

24/7

12:30 AM

The Weekly

Observer

ursday, January 23,2014

Cops look on as student bar flouts deadline

A man drinking at the SLN bar which remains open after 11.30 pm.

(Right )Two policemen seen outside the bar, around 11.40pm ISHAN BHATTACHARYA A bar located near a Public Education Society College (PES) remains open aer 11:30 pm and police officers can be seen outside as late as 11.40pm. .e law states that in Bangalore it is illegal to keep

continued from page 1 Subsequently, a complaint was lodged by Mazurier with the Karnataka State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, the Child Welfare Commission, the French Embassy and the French Commission.

Jones received a letter from the French ambassador on January 16 ‘urging’ her to allow the children to meet the ambassador as KPN News

Pascal Mazurier arriving at court, flanked by a cop he is presently in Bangalore.

She claimed that the letter stated that the French consulate is legally bound to provide assistance to any French citizen and that her children were French citizens.

However, she refused any such assistance as her previous pleas for help regarding the extension of her children’s visa and financial help were ignored.

Mazurier has been in the news for comparing his situation to that of Devyani Khobragade, the Indian diplomat who was al-

bars open aer 11 pm and if any owners do not follow this rule, the bar’s license can be cancelled.

A man who works in the SLN Bar said, “Nothing happens if we keep the bar open aer 11:30 in the night. At times the police create problems but not always.”

legedly mistreated in the US. According to Jones, this is ridiculous as Mazurier is not entitled to diplomatic immunity and was subjected to routine medical tests as part of the rape investigation.

Commenting on this, Mazurier said: “It is not about immunity. I was referring to the Vienna Convention on consular relations. I was talking about the treatment and the speedy trial.

Arrest depends on the final order of the court.”

Mazurier was convinced that the court would dismiss his charges.

But aer the court order was not in his favor he said, “I am disappointed. It would have saved me time and for me that means that I can see my children faster. But I am not scared. I will go for trial.” e charges against Pascal Mazurier are to be framed on January 24.

It is interesting to note that the Yelahanka police, when asked about the incident on Christmas Day, denied sending any cops to Suja Jones’ house. Munikrishna, Inspector, Yelahanka Police Station said, “We did not send any cops on anybody’s request. We would not do it without a court order.”

‘

It is not about immunity.

I was referring to the Vienna Convention on consular relations. I was talking about the treatment and the speedy trial. Arrest depends on the final order of the court.

- Pascal Mazurier

Preetam Mandal, a student of PES College, who lives very close to the bar said: “at bar remains open almost throughout the night.

Even if they close the shutters, one can enter the bar through the back door. ere is space in the first floor of the bar where people can sit and drink comfortably late at night. “e police rarely tell them anything. ere have been times when my friends have purchased alcohol from the SLN Bar at 11.40 in the night.”

He added, “At times aer 11:30 they will partially close the shutter and keep their business running.”

Devraj Acharya another student of PES College said, “Sometimes when the police arrive, the bar switches off its lights and keep the shop open.”

Krishna, inspector Yeshwanthapura Police Station, said: “e wine shops should be closed at 10:30 pm and the bars should be closed at 11 pm and bar cum restaurant at 11:30 pm.

But if at all they are open aer the closing time, they will be booked under the Violation Act. I will inform the police station near the SLN Bar and actions will be taken against them.”

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News Brief Six-year-old killed as auto rickshaw overturns on city street e six-year-old son of an auto driver died aer the vehicle crashed in a busy city road on Wednesday.

According to the K.R. Puram Traffic Police Station, the incident took place on Wednesday aernoon at Kaveri Nagar main road.

Shiva, 32, the driver of the auto-rickshaw was ferrying his son and a relative to a nearby place.

Police sources say that the auto-rickshaw was being driven at a high speed and that it crashed aer the driver suddenly applied the brakes upon approaching a speed-breaker.

Police Inspector, Ajaykumar from K.R Puram police station said, “When Shiva applied the brakes soon aer approaching the speed-breaker, the auto toppled leaving his son with major internal injuries. He succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday night. e relative was le with injuries.”

A case has been registered at K.R. Puram Police Station under IPC sections 279 (rash driving), 337(Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304 (A) Punishment for Culpable Homicide Not Amounting to Murder.

CITU workers throng Freedom Park, demand wage hike

CITU workers at a sit-down protest in Freedom Park over wage demands SHWETA NAIR & SOUMYA BASU Over 25,000 daily wage workers gathered in Freedom Park to demand an increase in their daily wage.

Centre of Indian Trade Unions workers demanded that the minimum wage of workers should be fixed at Rs 10,000 per month. At present they earn Rs 3000.

Varalaxmi, CITU spokesperson, said: “e demands of the daily wage workers are blown away by the government like the smoke of cigarettes. Workers here are getting paid less than Rs 3000 per month.”

Varalaxmi said that Aanganwadi workers should continue their strike even if police beat them up.

A CITU worker said: “If the government does not pay attention to our demands then tomorrow we will stage a violent protest in front of Vidhana

Soudha.”

Shree Ram, a toll collector at Bagepalli on NH 7, said: “I am paid very less. e pollution caused by the vehicles moving on the highway is making me sick. Per day labor wages are not even discussed in the parliament. Jobs should be made permanent for toll collectors; we are all on contract now.”

Maruti Manpade, an Aanganwadi, worker said: “e new government has done nothing for us. ings have not changed.

Salaries should be transferred to the accounts of the workers and not paid by cash.”

Prakash, who is leading the police team in Freedom Park, said: “e protest has resulted the traffic in the city to slow down.

It is taking almost an hour for buses to leave Majestic Bus Depot.”

S Krishnamurthy, an auto driver in the city said, “is

protest is causing so much of traffic. We have to take longer routes and the heavy traffic blockage is causing problems for us.”

A lady Asha worker said: “We are paid only Rs 2000 per month; the government should fix a minimum wage of Rs 10,000 per month. It is very difficult for us to survive in Bangalore with what we get. e government should listen to our demands. We can show the power of labor to those running the city” Labor minister Bache Gowda said that the CITU workers will meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on January 27. e workers staged a sit-down protest and refused to budge until agreement was reached on a date for a meeting. Organizers say they will organize further protests if their terms are not met.

A CITU leader speaks at the protest rally in Freedom Park.

The Weekly

Observer

ursday, January 23, 2014

Karnataka gearing up for Republic Day celebrations

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Events MUSIC

White Sugar Live White Sugar is a band from Kerala, with a strong sociopolitical conscience.

Date: February 1 Time: 8:30 pm onwards Venue: Bflat Bar and Dining, 100 Feet Road Above ING Bank , Indiranagar, HAL 2nd Stage

Students from four different schools add the final touches to their displays at Parade Ground ahead of Republic Day party sushmita seN An estimated Rs 20 lakh is scheduled to be spent for Republic Day celebrations in various schools across the city.

S. P. Kagle, Joint Director of Physical Education, Commissioner’s Office, said, “e expense will be

around Rs 5 lakh for each program. e Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and the Deputy Commissioner’s office will be providing money to each participating school.”

Each of the four participatory schools is to be given Rs 5 lakh each.

e four schools are Maximillen High School located in KHB Colony, Shyam’s Education Society in Govind Shetty Palya, NBN Weavers and International School in Anekal Zone and Government School Bangalore.

Sinappa, an official at the

Deputy Commissioner’s office said, “e rehearsals began from January 22.

No rehearsals will be held on January 25 as the seating arrangements will be finalized that day. On Republic Day the governor will host the flag at 8 a.m.

Different schools from

Bangalore will be performing here that day.”

Girija, who works for Sarvajanik Shikshana Elakhe, said,” Rehearsals in the parade ground have been going on since yesterday. Children are practicing since the beginning of January.

ere will be four programs. Sarvajanik Shikshana Elakhe is in charge of conducting all four of them.” e programs which will include cultural depictions of all 28 Indian states will be conducted in English, Hindi and Kannada.

MG Road gives a mixed response to ‘Namma Wi-Fi’ saiKat ghosh

Photo Credit: KPN News

A 207ft high tricolor towers over India’s national war memorial. The flag was erected today at the city’s memorial park.

e state government’s ‘Namma WiFi’ project, which provides a free WiFi scheme, a first of its kind in the country, has hardly any users. e project, announced in the last budget session, is also going to be launched at three more places in the city, Kormangala, Yeshwantpur and Shantinagar.

Mehboob, a businessman said, “I don’t think it will help much.” He added “Everybody now –a- days has Wi-Fi in their phones and hence people won’t be dependent on the free Wi-Fi scheme by the government.”

Half of the people in the city are not aware of the state government’s move.

Atul, who works at a private firm, was among them.

He said: “Yeah. the nearby coffee shop has a Wi-Fi, however I have no idea about the MG Rd’s Wi-Fi project.

Vishnu, who works in omas Cook, said, “It is not feasible to have Wi-Fi in a place like MG Rd. How can they provide free Wi-Fi? When people get to know about this they will come here every day only to access Wi-Fi.” He added that in this case the bandwidth provided must be high. e move will benefit the residents who stay nearby and the number of industries and banks which are set up on

MG Rd. Harsh, a student, said “e move will help the hoteliers nearby to improve their business. “ I come here on weekends so I won’t mind it. It will also help the teenagers who chit-chat on social networking sites.”

Rafiq, owner of a roadside Internet café, is sure that the free Wi-Fi scheme will not hit his customers. He said, “Free Wi-Fi is not new. It is there for some time now. at hasn’t reduced my income.”

D-VoiS, the company who acquired the contract from the state government to set up the Wi-Fi, refused to give any details.

However, the Director of the company said that the work is going in full swing. He added, “e Namma Wi-Fi will benefit the IT professionals of the city going on in full swing.”

‘

Everybody nowadays has Wi-Fi in their phones and hence people won’t be dependent on the free Wi-Fi scheme by the government.

- Rafiq Owner of a Cyber cafe

ART

Altered States of Reality Gallery ird Eye presents Altered States of Reality painting by A.K Govindan & Nivas Kanhere.

Date: January 31 Time: 10 am to 6 pm Venue: ird Eye - Indian Art Gallery, F-2, Epsilon Villas Yemlur Main Road , Airport Road

THEATR E

e Corporate Politics Of Macbeth Back-biting, dirty power plays, harassment in the office and crushed ambitions are in this new adaptation of William Shakespeare`s Macbeth.

Date: February 9 Time: 3 pm and 6:30 pm Venue: Jagriti eatre, Ramagondanahalli, Varthur Road , Whitefield.

Observer Team: Editor–Anagha Sawant Chief Sub Editor–Mayuri Ravi Sub Editors– Neha SIngh Apurva Venkat, Chittharth M, News Editors: Ishan Bhattacharya, Nikita Larvekar, Anannya Sarkar Proof Readers: Bhaskar Dutta Picture Editor & Infographics– Anand Jain Reporters– Sneha Mejari, Tanisha Das, Rahul Sadhu, Shweta Nair, Soumya Basu, Aurosmita Acharya, Sushmita Sen & Saikat Ghosh Emergency Call Services- Karishma Ravindran Email- editor@iijnm.org An IIJNM Publication (For Private Circulation)