Vehicular movement not allowed on Mullarapatna Hanging Bridge: MLA Rajesh Naik
Mullarapatna bridge collapsed: temporary road construction in process
Bantwal: The Bridge across the Phalguni River at Mullarapatna in Aral village in the taluk has collapsed on Monday evening affecting the vehicular movement. Construction of a temporary road has begun from this morning to provide an alternative arrangement.
Earlier in the day, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel along with MLA Rajesh Naik Ulippadi visited the spot where Mullarpatna Bridge collapsed and checked the damage. He has instructed the authorities to speed up the construction of the temporary road. Municipal councilors Govinda Prabhu, Devdas Shetty, local panchayat vice-president Jagadish Alva, Mangaluru Taluk Panchayat members Nagesh Shetty, Praveen Alva, Devappa Poojari, Umesh Arala, M.B. Ashraf, MS Muhammed, BM Lateef and others were present.
Work launched for alternative road construction: MLA Rajesh Naik
Speaking to reporters in Bantwal after the visit, MLA Rajesh Naik said, "Construction of the temporary road will not affect citizens of both sides of the bridge. The public does not need to worry. ”
“MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has spoken with PWD engineers Umesh Bhat, Gokul Das, and Ravikumar to arrange a temporary way for pedestrians on the hanging bridge. Until the Bridge gets repaired, no vehicles will be allowed on it,” he added.
Devdas Shetty, Purush Salian, Ramanath Rai, Santosh Raibettu were present.
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Karnataka Governor gives assent to legislation against ‘honour killing’ in inter-caste marriages
Bengaluru: The government has brought into force the Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the name of honour and tradition (Eva Nammava Eva Nammava) Act, 2026, intended to restrict ‘honour killings’ in inter-caste marriages.
According to The Indian Express, the legislation received assent from Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on April 9 and was officially notified in the state gazette on April 10. The law had been passed unanimously by the state legislature last month.
The Bill was proposed by the Congress government in the wake of caste-linked ‘honour killings’ in the state, including the December 21, 2025, murder near Hubli of a 20-year-old Lingayat woman by her father for marrying a man from another caste.
The phrase ‘Eva Nammava Eva Nammava’ in the title is in reference to the message of universal humanity that the Lingayat saint Basavanna espoused. Basavanna, who rebelled against the caste system to lay the foundation of the Lingayat faith system, an amalgamation of all castes, used the words meaning ‘he is a part of me’ to say all people are one.
Under the new law, crimes committed in the name of ‘honour’, including murder, assault, threats, and social boycott, are specifically addressed with stringent punishments. ‘Honour killing’ offences carry a minimum imprisonment of five years, while serious assaults attract at least three years in jail.
The new law defines the social boycott of inter-caste couples as forcible eviction to remote corners of villages, refusal to provide services, refusal to provide work, refusal to conduct business, denial of loans and admissions to schools, and makes it punishable.
In the case of ‘honour killings’ per se, the new law prescribes a minimum imprisonment of five years, and in the case of assaults, a prison term that is not less than three years for serious injury and two years for minor injuries.
The offences under the proposed law are cognisable and non-bailable, which means police can carry out arrests without court permissions after taking up a case.
The legislation follows several reported inter-caste relationship-related killings in Karnataka in 2025, including cases in Raichur and another involving 18-year-old Kavita.
The law to protect the freedom of choice in marriages is among several social bills that the Congress government has brought out in line with its policies for the backward and downtrodden communities in the state.
