Interstate crime crackdown: Five arrested; weapons, drugs seized in Mangaluru
Mangaluru (Karnataka), Mar 13 (PTI): Five notorious interstate criminals involved in multiple cases across Karnataka and Kerala were arrested, police said on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference in Mangaluru, Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal said the arrests led to the recovery of three pistols, six live bullets, 12.89 kg of cannabis, three vehicles, and other valuables.
Agarwal said that acting on a tip-off, the Central Crime Branch police intercepted a suspiciously moving car on Wednesday at Natekal in Mangaluru city.
During the raid, they arrested Noufal (38) and Mansoor (36), both residents of Kasaragod district in Kerala.
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"The police team recovered two pistols, four live bullets, two mobile phones, and the vehicle. The estimated value of the seized items is Rs 14.6 lakh. A case has been registered at Konaje police station," Agarwal said.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Noufal has six criminal cases related to drug trafficking registered against him at various police stations in Kerala.
Similarly, Mansoor has four cases, including drug smuggling and issuing life threats.
In another operation on the same day, the police intercepted a red car transporting banned narcotics from Kerala to Mangaluru.
The accused had planned to sell the contraband in the city. Abdul Latif, alias Thoku Latif (29), a native of Mangalpadi Panchayat in Kasaragod district and currently residing near Kozhikode Airport in Kerala, was arrested, and a large quantity of cannabis was seized from the vehicle, police said.
Further investigations are underway.
The police have intensified their crackdown on interstate criminal networks involved in arms smuggling and drug trafficking, Agarwal added.
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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.
