Mangaluru Police bars former Supreme Court Judge from holding press conference; block venues
Justice Gopala Gowda was to address the press conference regarding December 19 violence in city
Mangaluru: Listening Post People’s Tribunal constituted by Indian Social Institute, Bangalore, Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) Karantaka Chapter, and ‘Samvidhanadha Haadiyalli’ allegedly was blocked from holding press conference in the city by local police. The move comes as a surprise as the people’s tribunal was chaired by former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Gopala Gowda.
The tribunal had on Monday heard deposition from several eye witnesses, media persons, families of the two killed in police firing and those injured in the police action on December 19 clashes and violence during anti-CAA protest in the city.
On Tuesday, after visiting hospitals and the venues where protest was held and police action was initiated, the tribunal had called a press conference at a private hotel in the city to present its report to the media. But the organisers were told by the hotel management that the police had asked them to not allow the press conference to be held in the hotel.
Subsequently, the organisers booked another private hotel for the press conference. Much to the surprise of the organisers, the second venue also refused to let the press conference held in its premises after initially agreeing. This went on for at least ten private hotels before the organisers and Justice Gopala Gowda decided to cancel the press conference.
Speaking to the reporters outside a private hotel in the city, Sugata Srinivasaraju, senior journalist and one of three members of the tribunal added that it was unfortunate that the police did not allow the press conference to be held particularly because a former Supreme Court Judge was to lead the press conference.
“It is sad and unfortunate that things have panned out this way. If a former Supreme Court Judge is being barred from holding a press conference then it is very alarming, we can imagine how the police will treat common people” Sugata said.
Asked if the police had conveyed any official communication to the organisers, another member of the tribunal and former public prosecutor of Karnataka, BT Venkatesh noted that there was no communication between the organisers and police. But it was on record that the police had pressurized the hotel managements to not allow the press conference to be held in their respective hotels.
“We did not come here to create disturbance or to tweak the peace and harmony of the region. We came here to organise a people’s tribunal where anybody can come and depose. Even the police personnel could have come and deposed before the tribunal. It was not for some specific group of people” Sugata added.
BT Venkatesh further added that the documented report will now be released to the media about the findings of the tribunal and that no more press conference will be held.
Venkatesh also noted that the local police had even tried to stall the proceedings of the tribunal on Monday when people were deposing before it. He added that the police had pressurized the hotel management to stall the proceedings following which the venue of the tribunal had to be changed.
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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.
