Cash, gold worth lakhs of rupees robbed from two Mangaluru-bound trains
Kannur, Feb 8: In a daring robbery in two Mangaluru-bound trains early on Saturday, thieves decamped with gold and diamond jewellery and cash worth around Rs 20 lakh from two families, Railway police said.
Both the thefts took place in the air conditioned compartments of the Chennai-Mangaluru superfast express and Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru Malabar Express.
Railway police officials said the robbery on the Chennai-Mangaluru train had taken place between Tirupur and Tirur.
"As per the complaint from the 54-year old woman passenger Ponni Maran, who was travelling with three other people to Kannur for a wedding, she noticed that her bag containing the gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 15 lakh and Rs 22,000 in cash was stolen," they told PTI.
The family immediately alerted the police and the RPF personnel climbed aboard the train from the next station itself and recorded the statements of the passengers.
The Malabar Express theft took place between Vadakara and Mahe stations.
"The three members of a family, who reached Nedumbassery airport from Singapore, had boarded the Malabar Express from Angamally and were on their way to Payannur near Kannur. As the train reached Mahe, they realised that gold worth nine sovereigns was missing," a senior Railway police official said.
RPF has launched a probe and CCTV visuals are being examined.
The Railway police also launched a search at bus stands and lodges.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
