Observer The weekly
ursday, October 17, 2013
VOL13ISSUE14
Despite failure, traffic cops introduce more pelican crossings
PAGE2
Toxic chemicals pose threat to health
Social worker alleges foul play over land deal.
PAGE3
PAGE4
Rapist on run case. Police at the Byataranapura Police station
Exclusive
said, “e accused is absconding and we are trying to nab him. We also have detained Naima Shah, wife of the accused for questioning. Suman was sent to Victoria Hospital for medical attention, aer which she and her sis-
Sneha Mejari
A
ter have been staying with their grandmother.”
14-year-old girl claims that her
Police added that Naima Shah apparently en-
uncle raped her for the last five
couraged her husband. She considered Suman
months.
as his second wife and neglected the well being
Salim Khan(named changed), 35, is accused
of girl as a guardian. She does not bother to
of raping Suman (named changed) repeatedly
take care of the girls as she feels they are a bur-
in his house in Ambedkar slum. He is ab-
den on them. She has no regrets for what hap-
sconding aer the victim’s grandmother filed
pened.
a report with Byataranapura police station.
Naima Shah said, “Salim is a complete psy-
e grandmother of the victim said, “Doing
chopath. He earns nothing. All he knows is to
something like this to a child who has lost her
drink. He forced me to keep my mouth shut
mother is heinous. He is worse than a beast.
about it.”
Understanding such a child and supporting
e case was reported with police on 19th
them emotionally is the job of a guardian.”
last month by the grandmother. Hardly any
Suman’s father is serving a sentence of life
action was taken for 3 weeks. Police inspector,
imprisonment for the murder of his wife,
K.P. Sathyanarayana took up the investigation-
Shabbu for the last 12 years. Aer his convic-
last week, aer which the wife of the accused
tion, Suman and her elder sister, who were 6
was called for questioning. “e lack of imme-
and 8-years-old then, were adopted by Sha-
diate police action makes it difficult to convict
heen Shah. Despite the grandmother’s re-
the accused. In such cases, the investigation
peated requests to hand over the custody of
must be done faster because with time the
the girls to her, Shah denied it.
proofs become vague.” said
Grandmother, who is a social worker in
K.P. Sathya-
narayana.
Mumbai, came to Bangalore to pay a visit to
Salim Khan is unemployed and the family is
the girls. She noticed Suman’s condition and
dependent on the father of Naima, who is an
talked to her about it. Aer Suman told her about the rape, she immediately filed a police
auto rickshaw driver. e girls were not pro-
SalimKhan(namechanged),wantedbytheByataranapurapoliceforrapinghisniece.
vided any education due to extreme poverty.
e Weekly Observer
ursday, October 17, 2013
Reported as suicide, post-mortem reveals murder Dowry Death
Tulana Nayak
2
NEWS BRIEF Fewer police leads to rise in crime
laknagar Police Station said, “Sak-
“ere were marks all over her
ina’s in-laws had poisoned and then
body; it seemed that they had
strangulated her to death. ey
beaten her by holding her hands
Long recruitment procedure result-
staged the entire episode as an of
and legs tightly. I found marks on
ing in less number of policemen is
act of suicide.”
her thighs too but felt embarrassed
the reason for increasing crime rate
to show that to the police.” Mobin
in
said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police
He said that when a person hangs
e post mortem report of a
oneself, the marks aren’t that deep
woman whose death was reported
but aer the post mortem it was
as a suicide has revealed that she
clear that she was strangulated.
An FIR was lodged by Mobin in ilaknagar Police Station on Jan-
Bangalore.M.
Muthuraya,
said, “We are aware of the shortage of policemen in the force.”
uary 19. Sadiq was arrested three
“Aer the approval we can act
Sakina Bano*, 24, was seven
her neck. e post mortem report
Sajjad Khan,Sub-Inspector
days aer the complaint was
upon it and start recruiting.”, he
months pregnant when she was al-
revealed traces of poison in the
that Sadiq was physically-chal-
lodged.
added.e allotted strength of po-
legedly killed for dowry. e pre-
contents of her stomach.
lenged. But his family started tor-
was murdered.
Nail impressions were found on
liminary reports said she had
Mobin Taj, 40, Sakina’s elder sister
committed suicide but on investi-
said: “We didn’t know that Shakil
gating further the police found that
was handicapped. But I was con-
She claims to have stood against
she was murdered.
vinced just a few days before the
her parents’ decision to convince
wedding that he was physically
everybody for the marriage aer
challenged.”
seeing him adamant on marrying
She was married to Mohammed Sadiq, 25, on March 11 last year.
turing Sakina just a day aer their wedding.
According to the FIR lodged in the
Her family came to know about it
police station, Sadiq’s family men-
very late and thereaer decided to
On January 19 Mobin tried calling
tally tortured her for dowry.
call off the wedding. But Shakil
Sakina for three hours from 8:30
pleaded them otherwise.
pm but she didnt receive. Later
Sakina’s in-laws demanded Rs. 1
Sakina.
lakh in December last year from
“He threatened to commit suicide.
Sadiq called Mobin at 1.00 am in
Sakina’s family. Despite getting the
Finally he convinced me for the
the midnight to inform her that
amount from her parents, they
marriage but this is what I got in re-
Sakina was unwell and she should
asked for another one lakh in Janu-
turn”, Mobin added.
come to see her. Mobin found Sak-
ary. Sajjad Khan, Sub Inspector of i-
Mobin said that she agreed for the marriage even aer knowing
ina dead when reached with her family .
*names changed
“
When a person hangs oneself, the marks aren’t that deep but aer the post mortem it was clear that she was strangulated.”
licemen by the government is 14,746 but the current number is 11,882. When asked about the increase in crime rate, Murthuraya said “e crime rate does increase due to the shortage which is double work load on us and we are trying to do the best to our capability. ”e crime rate for 2013 so far is 27,107, according to the statistic. Pronab Mohanty, Deputy Commissioner Crime said, "Less number of
Khan, -Sajjad Su b - In s p e c tor, Tilaknagar Police Station
Traffic cops introduce six more pelican crossings
policemen has a direct affect on the crime rate. We need more number of policemen in the city, faster.”
Verdict out on Aarushi case e CBI today concluded that the twin murders of Aarushi Talwar
Prutha Bhosle
Light, were first introduced in the
system where pedestrians can make
e traffic police have introduced
city in 2008. ey help in providing
a call on 2926 complaining about
B. Dayananda, Additional Com-
six pelican crossings in different
an easier passage for the pedestri-
the faulty boards. As soon as such
missioner of Police (Traffic and Se-
e weapons used were a kitchen
parts of the city, despite failure of
ans to move from one side of the
calls are received, our officers im-
curity) said, “From 2008 till 2013,
knife and a golf club. It says that the
the current 54.
road to another during heavy traf-
mediately reach the spot and repair
54 pelican crossings have been in-
parents tried to tamper with evi-
fic. A switch board is attached to
them. If not, their payment is de-
troduced. However, many of them
dences by influencing the doctor
the traffic light pole which turns
ducted.”
green or red depending on the intensity of the traffic.
Pelican lights installed in 2008 Pelican crossings, also called Pedestrian Control Pelican Signal
pelican crossings.”
and Hemraj were committed by her parents Rajesh and Nupur Talwar.
need to be maintained and re-
who conducted the autopsy on the
Narsimha Murthy, Traffic Police
paired. e only reason to intro-
girl
Officer said, “In most conditions,
duce six more such crossings is to
Arvind, second division clerk
people are seen vandalising these
assure full safety to the people of
(Traffic Police) said, “Pelicans sense
switch boards by pressing the but-
Bangalore.”
a large number of people wanting
tons time and again, resulting in
He added, “Places where we are
to cross the road and thereby turn
severe damage. Each pelican cross-
introducing six new crossings are
Naulesh Kumar was robbed off Rs
red in order to make the moving
ing costs around Rs.2.3lac to 3lac.
Attiguppe Junction, BDA Complex
35,000 that he was about to deposit
vehicles stop. In other situations,
Maintaining them becomes very
Junction, BEL School Junction at
in a bank. He was standing outside
civilians can themselves press the
difficult.”
Jalahalli, Mantri Mall Junction, Ka-
the bank when, a group of men
Mobbed and robbed by gang
button on the switch of these peli-
He added, “One policeman will be
manahalli Junction and HMT Main
held his hands from behind and
cans so that the signal turns red.
posted at each pelican crossings
Road near Mahalasa Hotel. ese
snatched the money. He was also
is way, we have made it easier for
henceforth so that people follow the
are traffic prone areas where acci-
beaten up by them. An FIR was
people to move around without
rules. Eventually, the police pres-
dents are at peak. We hope that this
lodged in ilaknagar police sta-
risking their lives.”
ence will diminish by the time the
time we get a positive response
tion on October 15, 2013.
pedestrians realize the value of such
from the people on the project.”
He added, “We have a call logging
,
e Weekly Observer
ursday October 17, 2013
3
Toxic chemicals pose threat to health
Industrial waste consisting of heavy metals and poisonous chemicals accumulated in Byramangala Lake, Bidadi Soumya Basu A lake surrounded by global brand name factories is being slowly poisoned, according to a university report. Professor Srikant Swamy of Mysore University took water samples between May and August this year and found that even the treated water of the Byramangala Lake contains heavy metals like zinc, chromium, magnesium, cadmium, lead, and iron
“
We carried out a lot of protest regarding this issue. It is destroying the livelihood of the local people but as powerful industries are involved, the government has not taken any step - Mr. Ullash, an Environmental Activist “Wastewater needs proper treat-
ment before discharging to the receiving water bodies. Due to the large industrial activity, we could find the heavy metals in the wastewater and it can start accumulating in the soil. “In our studies, we found that there are many heavy metals in the plants grown by using these wastewater and it can reach to the people through food . It is a common practice in urban areas to grow greens by wastewater, but the type of pollutants and quantity of wastewater depends on the process of industry and also climate variation,” said Professor Swamy. For the past 30 years the lake has been the dumping ground of all kinds of industrial waste in the Bidadi belt and also the waste of Bangalore city. According to Mr. Ullash, an environmental activist, two of the world’s biggest brands, a so
e industrial chemical waste dumped in Byramangala Lake
drink company and a car company are contributing to the poisoning of the lake. “e factories only recycle a small part of the water, which is about 30 lakh liters and around 60 lakh liters of waste is dumped in the water by a major so drinks company,” said Mr. Ullash. He added, “We carried out a lot of protest regarding this issue. It is destroying the livelihood of the local people but as powerful industries are involved, the government has not taken any step.”
“
Numerous big private entities are associated and also the waste from the Bangalore city is being dumped over here, government can do nothing regarding it
throughout the region. Mr. Manjunath, an official at Bidadi Hospital, said, “We mostly get patients with skin diseases and asthma and most of them are children. In the last five years, the number of patients per day has increased a great fold.” According to the environmentalists, there is a possibility that the hazard content in the water may be percolating to the ground level. e local people are mostly dependent on bore-wells in that area and use the waste water for agriculture. e contaminated water may be affecting them. Bioaccumulation is the accumulation of toxic substance in an organism and geo-accumulation
is the accumulation of toxic substances in a place. e result of the effect may be carcinogenic, toxic, and neuro-toxic which leads to diseases like cancer. e polluted water is extensively used in agricultural activities from Kengeri to Bryamngala Lake. e local police are indifferent about the issue. According to them, big industries are involved and so the government is not doing anything. “Numerous big private entities are associated and also the waste from the Bangalore city is being dumped over here, government can do nothing regarding it,” said Prakash, Sub-Inspector, Bidadi Police Station.
Alkalinity level
- Prakash, Sub-Inspector, Bidadi Police Station. e people living in the area said that the lake is unfit for any kind of use. e industries dump their waste and they have been doing it for years and the government is not bothered about it, according to locals. ick white chemical foam covers the entire lake and as the lakes of Bangalore are interconnected, the hazardous waste is spreading
Scientists found increasing metal levels in the lake over two years
e Weekly Observer
usday, October 17, 2013
Social worker alleges foul play in land deal
Events
Saikat Ghosh
Music
A woman kept waiting at a police station for an entire day over a land row found her house demolished on returning home. “When I returned home that day, I did not find my house. e developers demolished the entire structure,” said Nalini M. A., a resident of Hebbal. “I couldn’t do much but cry,” she said. She is now living in the only room that remains of her demolished house. According to the 30 year old, her mother Smt. V. Padmavati was fooled into signing a contract by developers from Andhra Pradesh. “ey told her that they want our 10, 890 sq feet of land for a joint venture. But now they are claming its complete ownership,” she said. e accused developers M.Ramakrishna, 52, P.Munivenkata, 51, K. Balabhaskara, 46, K. Shekkar Shetty, 51, V. Loknath Reddy, 48 and A. Ravi Prakash, 41, all hail from Andhra Pradesh. On 26 August 2005, they came for the first
Nalini M. A. fighting to get back her land time to demolish Nalini’s house. She was caught completely unawares and said she won’t vacate the land as it belongs to her family. e developers then demanded Rs. 1 crore 20 lakh as compensation from her. Aer about five months, they lodged an FIR against her at the Hebbal Police Station. “On December 5 last year the police summoned me. Land brokers must have asked them to lodge an FIR as they knew I was not going to
vacate,” she said. As a part of her social welfare work, she runs ten tents for the poor who stay there for free. She has won her case in civil court but it has been taken forward to the high court. Nalini alleges that her lawyer Mr. Ramana, who is also a Janata Dal (Secular) leader from Malleshwaram, is not loyal to her. According to her, he played a key role in making her win the case in the civil court but is now bent on selling the property. “We transferred the ownership of the land to Mr. Ramana who was a good friend of my father as it looked right in those circumstances,” she said. “He has now vacated seven out of the ten tents, which I used to run,” she added. She has received several threats to vacate her land but she says she will continue to fight. “ey have bought a number of properties across the city and are very powerful. 10,890 sq feet of land does not matter much to them,” she added. e case is pending in the high court.
Child labor in city restaurant Raju Peethala
4
e annual music festival of the National Law School is in its 17th edition. Upcoming bands battle it out here for the highest honor. Where: e National Law School of India When: Nov 08- Nov 10, 2013, 11:00 a.m- 10:30 p.m Contact: 9611909525
Dance
Hip-nosis is the biggest belly dance in India. Hosted by Payal’s Dance Academy, the festival will feature 30 performances of world class profes-
ey work here because their parents want them
sionals and students.
Minors were found working at a restaurant in a
to earn money.” He refused to comment when
Where: Jnana Jyothi Auditorium
city ward despite government efforts to end child
asked about effects of child labor.
When: Oct 26- Oct 27, 2013,
labor.
Joint Labor Commissioner of Karnataka,
ree underage children were employed at
J.T.Jinkalappa, said: “ere are many children
Sri-Vari restaurant in Corporation Circle. Mr.
working in hotels and small scale industries.
Venkatappa, the owner of the restaurant, hired
ere is a child helpline number 1098 which
three children who were less than fieen years
gathers the information about children working
of age but claimed otherwise.
in the city. Our helpline department conducts
While investigating the issue e Observer found the children cleaning dishes and carrying heavy rice bags on their back.
Contact-80229612296, 9481457077
Workshop
rescue operations frequently and the owners will be punished according to the law.” e government has tried to prevent this
irteen-year-old, Krishna, said, "I have been
malpractice by introducing policies like Action
working for six months as my parents asked me
plan for eliminating child labor and State Child
to work here, I have studied till the sixth
Labor Project (SCLP).
standard."
9:00a.m onwards
According to the child labor prohibition and
First Rush is a 2-day acting work-
While Ramesh, 14, said:”I have been working
regulation act, 1986, any child who is less than
shop which ends with a production
here since the last three years. My parents
fourteen years of age should not be allowed to
by the participants. Do come to ex-
wanted me to contribute to the family’s monthly
work.
perience the magic of live perform-
income. I wanted to go to school but my father refused to send me. ” e owner of the restaurant, Mr. Venkatappa said: “e children are not aged below 15 years.
According to the (Eighty-sixth Amendment)
ance.
Act, 2002 free and compulsory education should
Where: Atta Galatta, Koramangala
be provided to all children between ages six and fourteen.
When: Nov 09-Nov 10, 2013
13-year-old employed in a restaurant
Contact: 9742362671
Observer Team: Reporters– Saikat Ghosh, Emergency Call Services- Vaishnavi J Desai Proof Reader –Tulana Nayak, Sneha Ghosh.News Editors– Tanisha Das, Suchitra Sharma, Sneha Bengani Picture Editor– Shivpriya Jodha, Design Desk- Sreelakshmy Sivaram, Rahul Sadhu, Suresh Kumar, Shweta Nair Sub Editors– Sneha Mejari, Sushmita Sen, Soumya Basu Chief Sub Editor– Prutha Bhosle Editor- Raju Peethala Email- editor@iijnm.org An IIJNM Publication (For Private Circulation)