Tag: Mysuru

Dalit Leaders Prevent BJP MP From Attending Ram Temple Function in Karnataka

MP Pratap Simha had arrived in a Karnataka village to attend the foundation stone-laying ceremony for a Ram temple. Some villagers were reportedly unhappy with his opposition to the Mahisha Dasara festival in the region last year.

New Delhi: BJP MP from Karnataka’s Mysuru seat, Pratap Simha, was reportedly unable to attend a religious event in a Mysuru village following opposition from some locals.

According to a report by the Deccan Herald, Simha arrived for the event on Monday (January 22) morning but left after a group of Dalit leaders gheraoed him in opposition to his visit.

The event in question was a foundation stone-laying ceremony for a Ram temple in Gujjegowdanapura village. A stone block that was used to carve the idol of Lord Ram in the Ayodhya Ram Temple was mined from this village, the Indian Express reported.

Monday’s ceremony was scheduled to take place before the Ayodhya temple’s consecration, the Express‘s report said.

It also quoted Suresh, a villager, as accusing Simha of coming to the village only for political reasons.

“You have never visited the village in ten years and you are here now for political reasons. Other elected representatives, including BJP MLAs, have come here and been involved. You never bothered to listen to us, and we do not want you to come here,” Suresh was quoted as saying.

The South First news website also reported Suresh, who it said was a former Congress taluka panchayat member, as saying that Simha was “anti-Dalit”.

According to The Hindu, Simha ultimately left the village without attending the foundation stone-laying ceremony.

The Herald cited villagers as opposing Simha’s visit saying he had “[issued] statements against Dalits at public platforms and during Mahisha Dasara”.

According to an earlier report by the Express, Simha had opposed attempts to celebrate the Mahisha Dasara festival last year on the grounds that it was “anti-Hindu”.

Its report said that the Dasara festival culminates with Vijayadashami, which according to Hindu mythology commemorates the Goddess Durga’s defeat of a demon named Mahishasura.

But it reported that some Dalits and rationalists in the Mysuru region claimed that Mahishasura was not a demon, but a king or nobleman who spread Buddhism in the region.

Simha had then said that a “few individuals [were] trying to twist the history and legacy of the land”.

“It is nothing but a sadistic mentality … We are ready for any conflicts to stop Mahisha Dasara permanently. If we allow, next they will ask forest brigand Veerappan Dasara to be celebrated,” the Express quoted him as saying.

On Monday, he reportedly blamed the opposition to his visit on Congress party workers.

“Just some four miscreants created the ruckus and they are Congress workers. I am against Mahisha Dasara even now. [The] Congress cannot defeat me in this Lok Sabha elections, which is why they are making such dramas. I will not fear for all these,” he said according to the Express.

Karnataka: Church, Statue Vandalised; Money Stolen from Donation Box

On Tuesday, December 27, at around 6-7 pm, church staff found the statue of baby Jesus damaged and money from the donation box missing.

New Delhi: Unknown attackers allegedly vandalised a church in Karnataka, damaged a statue of baby Jesus and stole money from its donation box on December 27.

The incident took place at St Mary’s Church in Periyapatna, about 85 kilometres from Mysuru city, The News Minute has reported.

Police told reporters that the perpetrators broke the back door of the church to enter it. On Tuesday, at around 6-7 pm, church staff found the statue damaged and money from the box missing.

Father John Paul of the church then filed a complaint with Periyapatna police, alleging damage to the baby Jesus statue and the theft.

Indian Express has reported that the area saw tension after news of the vandalisation spread.

Mysuru Superintendent of Police Seema Latkar told reporters that theft was the likely motive. Special teams are investigating the case, he said.

Perpetrators were also aware of the absence of church staff and the priest, police said, according to News Minute.

Domes on New Mysuru Bus Stop Demolished After BJP MP Claimed it Looked Like a Mosque

The bus stop had been commissioned by BJP MLA S.A. Ramdas.

New Delhi: The Mysuru district administration on Sunday (November 27) demolished two of the three domes on a newly built bus stop and retained the central dome following fracas between Mysuru BJP MP Pratap Simha and party MLA S.A. Ramdas.

Three domes have now been replaced by one red dome.

Simha had threatened to raze the structure on the Nanjangud Highway down with a bulldozer, as the domes on the bus stand “resembled a mosque”.

BJP sources told PTI that the design of the bus shelter was said to have been inspired by the Mysuru palace and was built by the district administration on the insistence of the MLA. “But, some technical fault took place in the construction, leading to misunderstanding between the two BJP leaders,” a BJP worker said.

Before the issue could reach a flashpoint, Ramdas decided to raze the dome down and he informed the district authorities to demolish the two domes, the sources said.

Expressing happiness over the demolition, Pratap Simha tweeted, “If there is a big dome flanked by two smaller domes on either side, it is a mosque. I did what I had said that I will get it removed. Thanks to the Deputy Commissioner who asked for time and kept his word, and to Ramdas who understood the reality and bowed to public opinion.”

Reacting to Simha’s statements, Congress MLA Tanveer Sait said, “What do we do if everything looks like the shape of the mosque? I don’t know who designed that shelter. If he wants to demolish that bus stop, let us see what all he will demolish in future.”

(With PTI inputs)

Tipu Express Renamed After Wodeyars; ‘Attempt to Erase Legacy of Muslim Rulers,’ Say Activists

The renaming of Tipu Express is in response to a demand put forward by Mysuru MP Pratap Sinha of the BJP, who had written to the then railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw a few months ago.   

New Delhi: Tipu Express, which plies between Mysuru and Bengaluru, has been renamed as ‘Wodeyar Express’, and an express train from Mysuru to Talaguppa has been named after Kannada poet laureate Kuvempu, The Hindu reported.

While there is no controversy over the new ‘Kuvempu Express’, the decision by the Railways to rename Tipu Express has drawn criticism from many who say that the name change was effected in line with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) obsession with name-changing to erase the legacy of Muslim rulers.

The Railway Board issued a notification authorising the changes on Friday, October 7. The changes came into effect on Saturday, October 8. The renaming of Tipu Express is in response to a demand put forward by Mysuru MP Pratap Sinha of the BJP, who had written to the then railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw a few months ago.

In his letter, Sinha had highlighted the contribution made by the Wadiyars to the development and expansion of railways in the then princely state of Mysore. He had argued that there was no railway system during the reign of Tipu Sultan while the Wadiyars had heavily invested in and promoted railways as a means of transportation. He had also said that their decision to promote railways had actually ensured timely relief during famine under their reign.

A section of railway activists – who are at the forefront of fighting for better amenities for railway passengers – said no one doubted the immense contribution made by the Wadiyars to the expansion of railways. However, they said, it would have been better to name a new train and a new rake after them, instead of changing the name of Tipu Express.

A superfast train connecting Mysuru and Bengaluru, Tipu Express was started on April 15, 1980. It covers 139 kms in estimated 3.15 hours on a single-line metre gauge track. As for the Talguppa Express which is now named after Kuvempu, it plies between Talguppa and Mysuru. The poet laureate was born in Tirthahalli in the Shivamogga district.

Mysuru Man Surrenders After Allegedly Murdering Daughter Over Inter-Caste Relationship

The now deceased girl had approached police asking for protection and had only returned home after her parents gave an undertaking that they wouldn’t harm her.

New Delhi: A man in Mysuru has surrendered to police after admitting to having murdered his teenage daughter over an inter-caste relationship.

The 45-year-old father told police of Periyapatana Taluk that he, an ‘upper’ caste Vokkaliga man, had been upset over his 17-year-old daughter’s relationship with a Dalit boy, Hindustan Times has reported.

The boy was a resident of the Kaggundi village. The man and his daughter lived in neighbouring Kaggundi.

An officer of the Periyapatana police station told Hindustan Times that the girl had approached police alleging harassment at home over the relationship. She had also asked for protection from police, following which she was shifted to a government girls’ home in Mysuru city, according to the officer.

The Hindu has reported that her parents first appealed to and then brought her back after giving an undertaking to the Mysuru District Child Welfare Committee that they would not harm her and would also facilitate her education.

Police told news outlets that the girl initially told the Committee that she did not want to return with her parents. She agreed after officials paid a visit to her house and allegedly counselled her parents.

Police further said that the girl’s family attempted to convince her to cut off ties with the boy once she returned home. When she attempted to contact her boyfriend again, a fight began between her and her parents. In the early hours of Tuesday, June 7, her father strangled her to death.

The family initially disposed of her body by the road but a day later, the father surrendered to police.

Police have arrested both parents.

 

‘We Didn’t Spare Gandhi’: Karnataka Hindu Mahasabha Leader Arrested for Threatening CM Bommai

The threats came in response to the government’s demolition of a Hindu temple in the Nanjangud taluk which has become a political controversy in recent weeks.

New Delhi: Dharmendra, general secretary of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha in Karnataka, was taken into custody by Mangaluru police on Sunday after making a “death threat” to chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, NDTV reported.

The remarks came during a press conference held on Saturday by the religious outfit about the demolition of the Sri Adishakti Mahadevamma temple in the Nanjangud taluk of Mysuru on September 8.

The demolition of the temple had been ordered by the Supreme Court.

Addressing the chief minister, Dharmendra had said, “We didn’t spare Gandhiji, who are you then? If Gandhiji could be assassinated, do you think we won’t consider the same for you?”

The remarks, which were recorded and uploaded to social media, led to Dharmendra’s arrest along with two of his colleagues, Rajesh Pavitran and Prem Poolali. The three men have been charged by the Mangaluru police with IPC Sections 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy), 153 (a) (promoting enmity between different groups), 506 (criminal intimidation) among others.

The arrests were made on the basis of a complaint made by the Hindu Mahasabha state president Lohith Kumar for misusing the organisation’s name and threatening the Karnataka chief minister, reported India Today.

During the press conference, Dharmendra also took exception to the court’s orders for demolition. He said that India was a “majoritarian country divided on religious lines” and asked, rhetorically, where Hindu’s should go if things were made tough for them.

He denounced the Supreme Court order as an attempt to appease Christians and Muslims and went on to announce protests on the matter, which were to be held on Wednesday, September 22.

While speaking to NDTV, however, Dharmendra noted that the reference to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination was not meant as a threat to anyone but rather as “an expression of anger”.

The demolished temple was one of 15 in Nanjangud which had been identified as encroaching on public property. After videos of the demolition were shared on social media by BJP MP from Mysoru-Kodagu, Pratap Simha, the issue became a political firestorm.

While villagers expressed an emotional connection to the temple, they couldn’t identify when exactly it had been built. Pro-Hindu groups, however, alleged that it had stood for over a century, the New Indian Express reported.

The groups also took exception to the fact that the demolition took place early in the morning, with Simha saying, “The officials came like thieves overnight and demolished the temple.” The incident drew criticism against the Bommai-led government from several quarters.

Mysore University Restricts Movement of Women; Withdraws Order After Outrage

The order came in the aftermath of the gang-rape of a student that has led to countrywide outrage.

New Delhi: Within hours of issuing a circular on Saturday, August 28, curbing the movement of female students in and around campus after 6:30 pm, the University of Mysore withdrew the order following backlash from several quarters, The News Minute has reported.

Apparently, the restrictions had been imposed in view of female students’ “safety”, following the recent gang rape in Chamundi Hills, Mysuru’s iconic pilgrim centre and tourist destination. No such restrictions had been placed on male students.

The circular issued by the university registrar had also barred female students from going to Kukkarahalli Lake premises, abutting the university campus, after 6.30 pm. “Security officers should make arrangements to patrol the lake area from 6 pm to 9 pm,” the circular had read.

Additionally, in the university’s Mansa Gangothri premises, female students had also been prevented from sitting alone after 6:30 pm.

Also read: ‘Congress Trying to Rape Me’; ‘Survivor Shouldn’t Have Gone to Deserted Place’: Karnataka Home Min

Earlier G. Hemanth Kumar, the university vice-chancellor, had said, ” The order has been issued after the police department raised concern over the safety of girl students in the campus which has lonely places. The guideline has been issued in the interests of the security of female students.”

As for restrictions placed on going to Kukkarahalli lake after dark, Kumar had said the lake premises has thick vegetation like a forest and could potentially turn into hotspots for crime. Hence the order, he had added.

Kumar had said the wording of the circular “may be a problem”, but the message and the intent of the university administration were clear. “In the campus, we wanted to convey to girl students that instead of going alone by themselves, they should go along with their friend. The message’s wordings have gone wrong from the side of the Registrar. I will get it rectified,” he had added.

The August 24 gang-rape of an MBA student in Chamundi Hills has sparked protests across Karnataka. The survivor was allegedly assaulted when she was out with her friend in the evening. According to Araga Jnanendra, Karnataka home minister, five people have been arrested so far in connection with the crime.

Mysuru Gang-Rape: Five People Arrested, Says Karnataka Home Minister

Chief Minister Basavaraj S. Bommai had said five police teams are investigating the case.

Bengaluru: Police have succeeded in cracking the Mysuru gang-rape case, Karnataka home minister Araga Jnanendra said on Saturday, August 28.

Initially declining comment on reports that had noted that four or five people had been taken into custody in connection with the incident, the home minister later confirmed that as many had been arrested.

“Five people have been arrested. Our police team has exhibited efficiency. I thank our police,” Jnanendra said, according to ANI.

ANI also quoted Karnataka DGP Praveen Sood as having said that the five are from Tamil Nadu. “As per preliminary probe, one of the accused is juvenile, subject to confirmation, it’ll be known from further probe. One accused is absconding,” Sood reportedly told ANI.


Earlier, Chief Minister Basavaraj S. Bommai said he is confident that the police would crack the case as early as possible and apprehend the culprits.

Bommai said five police teams are investigating the case. “Police have taken the Mysuru case very seriously,” he told reporters here. “I am confident that the police will succeed in cracking the case as early as possible”.

The victim, a college student studying in Mysuru, was gang-raped near Chamundi foothills on the outskirts of Mysuru on August 24. A friend who was with her was assaulted by the gang.

The gang-members had allegedly demanded Rs three lakh from them in exchange for not making the video of the rape public, PTI reported quoting unnamed police sources.

DG & IGP of Karnataka Praveen Sood is supervising the investigation into the gang-rape which has sparked massive outrage.

‘Follow Hyderabad’

Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday appeared to suggest that Karnataka police deal with the rapists of a the college student, the same way police in Telangana did nearly two years ago when the rapists of a vet who was also murdered were shot dead by police.

The four alleged rapists had burnt alive the veterinarian at Shamshabad in the Telangana capital in 2019. Days after they were captured, the accused were taken to the crime scene. Telangana police claims they were shot while they attempted to escape but an inquiry commission, appointed by the Supreme Court is investigating this claim.

Speaking to reporters in Chennapatna, the former chief minister said, “I appreciate what the Hyderabad police did in dealing with a rape case. What did they do finally? Unless stringent action is taken things will not improve.”

Amid outrage over the gang-rape, Karnataka minister Anand Singh who had earlier said that the couple should not have gone to the deserted spot, said: “Everything of the perpetrators should be chopped off.”

The Karnataka home minister had said August 26, that the Mysuru gang-rape survivor and her friend should not have ventured to a deserted place and that the Congress was trying to “rape” him by politicising the issue.

Mysuru Rape | ‘Couples Shouldn’t Go to Such Places’: Now, Karnataka Tourism Minister Pipes In

A day ago, the Karnataka home minister had said a similar line, saying the couple shouldn’t have gone to a deserted place.

New Delhi: A day after his cabinet colleague said the Mysuru gang-rape survivor should not have gone to a deserted place at night, Karnataka tourism minister Anand Singh said the same.

An MBA student was allegedly raped by five men near Chamundi Hills in Mysuru late on Tuesday, August 24 and the incident came to light a day after, on August 25. The girl and her male friend, who was assaulted by the gang, are undergoing treatment in a private hospital.

Indian Express has reported that Singh said police cannot be deployed at remote spots.

“Be it young lovers or newlywed couples, they shouldn’t go to such places. We cannot tell everyone not to go. Police can’t be deployed at all such spots,” Singh said on Friday, August 27.

A day ago, Karnataka home minister Araga Jnanendra had said that the survivor and her friend should not have ventured to a deserted place and that the Congress was trying to “rape” him by politicising the issue.

“Around 7-7:30 pm (on Tuesday) they (the victim and male friend) had gone there. It is a deserted place, they should not have gone.. but we can’t stop anyone from going, they have gone. It is a deserted place and no one usually goes there as no one will be there,” Jnanendra told reporters.

Reacting to opposition Congress’ criticism on the law and order situation in the state after the gang-rape incident, he said “Rape has happened there (in Mysuru), but the Congress is trying to rape me…they are trying to rape the home minister. They are trying to gain political mileage. It is an inhuman act.”

Amidst outrage, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said, “I just don’t agree with the comments made by my Home Minister regarding the gang-rape incident. I have advised him to give a clarification.”

MBA Student Gang-Raped in Mysuru, Boyfriend Attacked

Nobody has been arrested so far.

New Delhi: A 23-year-old MBA student studying in a private college in Mysuru was allegedly gang-raped by unidentified people on the outskirts of the city near Lalitadripura on Tuesday night.

The student, riding pillion with her boyfriend, was on her way to Chamundi Hills when a few people waylaid them on Tuesday.

The gang initially demanded money, but when they found nothing, attacked her friend and dragged her to a place where they committed the crime, police said.

The victim has been admitted to a hospital. Based on her complaint, a case of gang-rape has been registered against unknown people, police added. According to the Indian Express, the woman is in critical condition and yet to make her statement to the police.

The Mysuru police commissioner Dr Chandragupta visited the spot and formed multiple teams to probe the case. “These cases are very sensitive. We cannot reveal too many details. An FIR has been registered. We will know how the attack happened when we get a statement from the victim. Meanwhile, her friend has given a statement and we have filed an FIR on the basis of that,” Chandragupta said, according to the newspaper.

Reacting to the incident, Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters in Delhi that he has directed the director general of police, Praveen Sood, to initiate steps to nab the culprits. Nobody has been arrested for the crime yet.

“Based on the statement, a case has been registered. I have directed the DGP that whoever has perpetrated it, they should be identified and stringent action should be taken against them,” Bommai said.

Terming the incident unfortunate, state home minister Araga Jnanendra said he has directed the police to conduct a thorough inquiry and take stern action. Citing a preliminary report, he said four persons were involved in the crime. The minister said he would visit Mysuru on Thursday.

“They are both students. At around 7.30 pm yesterday, they went to the forest region near the helipad. Some people who were following them have done this. At around 1.30 am, they got admitted to a hospital. In the morning, a memo was received from the hospital. An FIR has been registered. Further inquiries are on. I have directed the police to take it very seriously. No arrests have been made until now. We have sent an ADGP to Mysuru,” Jnanendra said.

(With PTI inputs)