bangalore news times

Bengaluru: A major crackdown on child labour in Bengaluru West and Nelamangala has led to the rescue of more than 71 children allegedly employed in shops, garages and other establishments. In Nelamangala rural police limits, officials acted on information that minors were being illegally engaged as labourers. A special police team headed by DySP Umarani and CPI Narendra Babu conducted raids at the suspected premises. The operation reportedly uncovered instances of young children being made to perform strenuous work. Police registered five separate cases at the Nelamangala Rural police station following the raids. The children rescued from the establishments were handed over to a children’s care and counselling centre to ensure their safety. Bengaluru West Division police also launched an extensive campaign against the employment of minors. As part of the drive, police teams conducted surprise inspections at 917 establishments, including commercial outlets, garages and...

Bengaluru: A decision by the Karnataka government to prescribe the singing of only the first two stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ at state government functions has triggered a sharp political exchange, with Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and KPCC president BK Hariprasad hitting back at the Bharatiya Janta Party’s criticism. Shivakumar said the Congress had already made its position clear on the issue and accused the BJP of using the government directive for political purposes. Speaking to the media on Thursday, the Chief Minister said, “Our party’s stand on Vande Mataram is clear. We are the ones who brought the national anthem. They are doing politics.” The BJP had objected to the government’s decision to restrict the rendition at official functions to the first two stanzas. Hariprasad strongly defended the government’s move and said the decision was connected with national unity and the historical significance of ‘Vande Mataram’ during the freedom struggle. He said ...

Bengaluru : Deputy Lokayukta-1 K.N. Phanindra has ordered the registration of a suo motu case over allegations that poor-quality shoes supplied free of cost to government schoolchildren under the state’s shoe-and-socks scheme were damaged within days of distribution. The development comes after media reports highlighted complaints from students and parents that the shoes distributed under the government scheme had torn within a week or that the stitching had come apart. The issue had also triggered criticism from opposition parties, with Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka accusing the government of failing to ensure quality in the procurement and supply of footwear to students. Ashoka had alleged that poor-quality materials were being supplied under a scheme intended to benefit children from economically weaker families. He claimed that shoes distributed in several districts, including Raichur, Tumakuru and Ballari, had reportedly deteriorated within a week. The BJP leader ha...

Yadgir : A severe shortage of permanent teachers is affecting the functioning of government schools in educationally backward Yadgir district, with a government higher primary school in Kakkera town of Surpur taluk having more than 300 students but only two permanent teachers. The Kakkera government higher primary school is facing an acute shortage of subject-wise teachers, forcing the school administration to depend heavily on guest teachers to conduct classes. Of the two permanent teachers currently available, one is the head teacher while the other is a physical education teacher. This has left the school with inadequate teaching staff for regular academic subjects. The situation has worsened as one of the teachers is currently on childcare leave. Parents have expressed concern that the shortage of teachers is affecting the quality of education and the academic progress of students . Parents alleged that classes are not being conducted effectively because of the sho...

Bengaluru: Former MP Prajwal Revanna is alleged to have challenged police officers during questioning over the smartphone recovered from his barrack at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, reportedly telling investigators that he would seek legal recourse against the proceedings. Revanna is currently in prison in connection with a rape case. During the investigation into the prohibited mobile phone found in the jail, he reportedly questioned the police about why they were interrogating him and allegedly reminded them of his political and family background. According to reports, Revanna told the investigators that he was a former MP and grandson of a former Prime Minister. He allegedly accused the police of attempting to frame him deliberately and claimed that there were efforts to get his bail cancelled. “I will not say anything. Do whatever you want,” he is reported to have told the police. Revanna also allegedly said that he would approach the court against the action bein...

Bengaluru : Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Thursday, September 10, that the completion of 100 days in office was only the beginning of the government’s journey towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people and accelerating the state’s overall development. In a statement marking the completion of 100 days since taking over as Chief Minister, Shivakumar said his government has taken several important steps during the period, with a firm resolve to respond to the aspirations of the people and speed up the comprehensive development of Karnataka. “100 days… this is only the beginning,” CM Shivakumar said, outlining the government’s vision for the coming days. He said the government’s focus would be on taking Karnataka to greater heights by giving priority to development, employment, technology, infrastructure, education, agriculture and improving the standard of living of the people. “Over the coming days, our resolve is to take Karnataka to greater h...