File photo of KSRTC buses
BELAGAVI: Bus services between Karnataka and Maharashtra stand suspended until further notice after the Marathi-versus-Kannada row erupted yet again in the border areas, leading to stone-pelting and ink-smearing campaigns on both sides over the past two days.
After protesters threw stones at Maharashtra state transport buses in Kolhapur late Friday night, corporations in both states deemed the environment unsafe and withdrew their buses.
The latest round of protests is believed to have started two days ago as alleged Shiv Sena members blackened Kannada signboards at the famed Mahalakshmi temple in Kolhapur, which draws thousands of devotees from across the border.
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HAVERI: Desperate to make a quick buck and influenced by TV crime shows, two brothers aged 20 and 17 allegedly abducted and murdered an 11-year-old neighbour, planning to seek ransom for him a few days later.
The duo were arrested on Friday after they fled home and their parents — both teachers — reported their suspicious behaviour to police.
Duo strangled boy with rope
Police said the brothers abducted Tejasgouda, son of advocate Jagadish Mallikeri, in a car from his house in Ashwini Nagar on March 7. The boy’s parents complained to cops the same day and a search was launched. Four days later, his charred body was found on a hostel premises near his house. SP KG Devaraj said the brothers had trawled many films and TV shows on destroying evidence and evading cops but the burned body left enough leads to follow.
BELAGAVI: The high court’s Dharwad bench has directed the government to bar a revenue official from posting in Belagavi for five years for exerting “political influence” to get a transfer to the division.
On a writ plea filed by Jagadish R Roogi, regional joint director of land records (RJDLR) in Kalaburagi, the bench quashed the transfer order of S Nissar Ahmmed, joint director of land records (JDLR), and instructed the state not to appoint him to the post. The verdict was passed on February 22.
Roogi challenged his transfer to Kalaburagi on September 16, 2020 — five days after taking charge as RJDLR in Belagavi, after working there as JDLR since 2017. He alleged that on August 24, Ahmmed was posted to Belagavi as JDLR and asked to report to him. However, on September 16, Ahmmed was ordered to take charge as RJDLR and Roogi told to shift to Kalaburagi. Roogi moved court after the administrative tribunal (KAT) rejected his plea.
HDMC is all set to hire marshals to keep watch on the huge gatherings on the line of BBMP marshals to curb the spread of the virus.
HUBBALLI: Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation is all set to hire marshals to keep watch on huge gatherings like weddings on the lines of BBMP marshals to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The marshals will report violations of covid guidelines and slap fines on public.
Initially HDMC will hire five marshals, of them three will be deployed in Hubballi and two in Dharwad. As Covid cases are increasing again, HDMC wants to control its spread by using marshals.
The online skill gaming scene in India has changed significantly in recent times, with the industry showing an exponential growth rate year on year, attracting several marquee investors. Though the sector has tremendous potential to provide a healthy and responsible form of entertainment, India's online skill gaming industry is governed by vague state-by-state laws and regulations which do not provide enough clarity. Latest judicial developments reveal that Indian courts and state administrative bodies have begun to address this need to regulate the online gaming space, thanks to the effort of bodies like the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF). To achieve the aim of building a booming ecosystem for this high-potential Online Skill Gaming sector in Karnataka, AIGF recently launched a campaign called “Game for Future”, in association with The Times of India and Vijay Karnataka. As a part of the campaign, AIGF hosted a series of webinars, hoping to create awareness about the potential of the online skill gaming industry and e-Sports through healthy conversations and deliberations. Below excerpts has industry experts - Shweta Rajpal Kohli (Director and Head of Public Policy, Sequoia India & South East Asia), Rameesh Kailasam (CEO of IndiaTech.org) and Sai Srinivas (CEO and co-founder of the MPL) answering some crucial questions.
Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa. (File photo)
HUBBALLI: Chief minister BS Yediyurappa’s announcement of constructing a pilgrims’ centre for Karnataka devotees in Ayodhya has triggered a controversy with Kannadigas visiting Delhi urging him to meet the long-pending demand of constructing a Yatri Nivas in the national capital.
V G Hegade, president, Delhi Karnataka Sangha (DKS), told TOI that the Delhi Yatri Nivas is pending since 10 years. “My predecessors have been urging the government to sanction funds for the Nivas. Currently we can accommodate 30 members and we have restricted it to artists and writers of Karnataka who visit here to participate in programmes. We have also been facilitating Kannadiga pilgrims visiting Kedarnath, Badrinath, Amarnath and Ayodhya. If Karnataka government constructs and maintains a Nivas, well and good. Otherwise we are ready to share the construction cost and even to maintain it if government requires our service,” he added.
Manjamma Jogati
HUBBALLI: In a big boost to Kannada queer literature, Gulbarga University Kalaburagi is set to make transgender activist Manjamma Jogati’s autobiography a textbook for undergraduate students from the next academic year.
Naduve Suliva Hennu captures the life and times of Jogati, who is the first transgender chief of Karnataka Janapada Academy and winner of Padma Shri award.
‘Honour for transgender of the Jogati heritage’
The book narrated by Arun Joladkudligi was released in January 2020. University vicechancellor Dayanand Agsar told TOI that the decision of the undergraduate board of studies is “a good move”. Once the academic council gives the green signal, it will be part of the syllabus from 2021-22, he added.
Online skill gaming has undergone a sea change in the past and it continues to make rapid progress with internet penetration in the remotest of locations. A KPMG – Google study conducted in May 2017 predicted that by the year 2021, the gamer base in India will more than double to reach 310 million. But a zillion misconceptions continue to make people indecisive whether online skill gaming is a boon or a bane. Most people believe that online skill games have ill effects on children and are a waste of time. On the contrary, these games help in children’s development if they limit playing them for just a few minutes (10 minutes for kids aged 3 and 30 minutes for 6-year-olds) every day, according to research. Designed for fun and to give an exciting experience, online skill games have become more than just a leisure activity. They test your skills and require quick decision-making. Kids often get a sense of achievement after a win and that helps them gain self-confidence.
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BELAGAVI: While the number of fresh Covid-19 cases are burgeoning in some districts of the state, Bengaluru Urban especially, most districts in North Karnataka have seen only a marginal increase over the past week.
While district administrations have kept beds ready in case there is a second wave of infections, it has also implemented several safety measures such as tightening movement across the border to prevent spread of the virus.
Over the past three days, most districts in North Karnataka barring Kalaburagi have seen between one and 20 cases daily. In Kalaburagi though 78 cases were registered over the past three days – 37 on March 5 alone.