bangalore news times

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Election Commission on Monday, August 24, published the first draft electoral roll following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in the state. Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukumar said more than 1.07 crore names have been moved to the ASDDO (Absent, Shifted, Dead, Duplicate and Other) category following the exercise. 4.46 crore voters digitised According to the draft roll, Karnataka now has 4,46,80,151 registered voters, against 5,54,32,314 voters before the SIR exercise. Of the total voters retained in the draft roll, details of 4,46,35,975 voters have been digitised, accounting for 80.52 per cent of the total. The draft roll includes 2,22,01,727 male voters, 2,24,75,553 female voters and 2,871 third-gender voters. 7,09,870 duplicate voters identified The Election Commission said a total of 1,07,96,339 voters who did not submit enumeration forms have been placed in the ASDDO category. Of these, 65,45,679 voters ...

Belagavi : A sharp fall in vegetable prices has pushed farmers in parts of Karnataka into severe distress, with growers in Belagavi throwing coriander on the roadside and tomato farmers in Davanagere leaving their crop unharvested after prices plunged to just Rs 1 a kg. In Belagavi’s Raibag, coriander prices have fallen drastically within days. The crop, which was selling at around Rs 10 to Rs 15 per bundle two days ago, fetched around Rs 10 for three bundles on Saturday evening. By Sunday, prices had fallen further to just Rs 3 to Rs 5 for a bundle. With the returns failing to cover even harvesting and transportation expenses, distressed farmers reportedly dumped their coriander produce on the roadside. The sharp decline has left growers worried as they are unable to recover the money spent on cultivation. Farmers said they had invested considerable amounts in seeds, fertilisers, labour, irrigation and other agricultural inputs. However, the sudden collapse in market pri...

Gangavathi : Forest department officials have stepped up vigilance in villages around Anegundi following reports of a tiger sighting in the hill ranges, urging residents to exercise caution and avoid venturing alone into forest and hilly areas. Officials began visiting residential areas surrounding Anegundi and settlements located close to the hills on Sunday evening, using loudspeakers mounted on vehicles to issue safety instructions to residents. Forest officials said pugmarks suspected to be those of a tiger have been found in forest and hilly areas around the villages, indicating the possible movement of the animal in the region. Teams have been monitoring the area and advising villagers to take precautions until the animal’s movement is ascertained. Through public announcements, residents have been asked not to move around alone, particularly in areas close to forests and hills. Farmers have also been advised against going alone to their fields and to travel in grou...

Bengaluru: Three women were killed, and eight others sustained serious injuries after a Bolero carrying labourers rammed into an electricity pole in Shahapur taluk of Karnataka’s Yadgir on Sunday, August 23. The deceased have been identified as Bhagyashree, 35, Satyamma, 30, and Honningamma, 18. The victims were reportedly travelling in the Bolero along with other labourers to work when the accident occurred. According to preliminary reports, the driver lost control of the vehicle, following which it veered off the road and crashed into an electricity pole. The impact was severe, leaving three women dead and several passengers injured. Local residents and passers-by rushed to the spot and helped rescue the injured. The eight seriously injured labourers were shifted to a nearby hospital, where they are undergoing treatment. Probe launched Police from Bhimarayanagudi station reached the accident site and initiated an investigation. The bodies of the deceased we...

Bengaluru : Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Sunday announced that the BJP and its ally JD(S) would lay siege to Vidhana Soudha here on August 24 seeking the removal of Planning and Statistics Minister B Nagendra from the cabinet. Addressing reporters here, Ashoka alleged that Nagendra should be removed for his involvement in Rs 89 crore Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation scam. The BJP workers had been staging protests and day-and-night dharnas across the state for the past week and announced that the party would march from Freedom Park and lay siege to Vidhana Soudha at 9.30 am on Monday. BJP state president B Y Vijayendra would also participate in the protest, he said. “We will not stop here. Tomorrow too, we are going to lay siege to Vidhana Soudha,” Ashoka said. The former Deputy Chief Minister alleged that the Congress government was trying to suppress the truth by staging counter-protests. He said...

Haveri : Sugar Minister Rudrappa Lamani on Saturday, August 22, said he would convene a meeting of officials on Monday to review the sharp rise in the prices of sugar and jaggery. He said the government was yet to ascertain the exact reasons behind the increase and suspected that some wholesale traders may be creating an artificial shortage. Speaking in Haveri, Lamani said he had been occupied with the ongoing Assembly session and therefore could not hold a meeting on the issue. “We will hold a meeting with officials on Monday and discuss the reasons for the price rise,” he said. The minister said there were allegations that wholesale traders were deliberately creating an artificial shortage to push up prices. He said the government had directed officials to inspect warehouses and take action if any attempt to hoard sugar or jaggery was detected. Lamani, however, said certain aspects concerning sugar prices were under the control of the Union government and the state gov...