Ballari clashes: Karnataka govt transfers DIG, appoints new SP
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka government on Wednesday transferred the DIG of Ballari range, Vartika Katiyar, in what is seen as a move following the recent clashes in Ballari that led to the death of a person.
Dr P S Harsha, IPS, who was waiting for a posting, has now been posted as Inspector General of Police, Ballari Range, following Katiyar's transfer.
The government, which had suspended Pavan Nejjur as Ballari SP following the incident, has now appointed Suman D Pennekar as the new Superintendent of Police of the district.
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"Vartika Katiyar, IPS (KN 2010) Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ballari Range, is transferred with immediate effect and until further orders as Deputy Inspector General of Police, Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement in the upgraded vacant post," the government notification said, without mentioning any reasons.
P S Harsha, IPS (KN 2004), waiting for posting, is posted with immediate effect and until further orders as Inspector General of Police, Ballari Range, vice Vartika Katiyar, transferred, it said.
"Suman D Pennekar, IPS (KN 2013) Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence, is transferred with immediate effect and until further orders as Superintendent of Police, Ballari District in the vacant post," the notification further said.
Tension prevailed in parts of Ballari on January 1 night after supporters of Ballari Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy and Gangavati BJP MLA G Janardhan Reddy allegedly clashed over a banner installation issue. The situation turned violent with alleged stone-pelting and firing, leaving one person dead.
The clashes began after supporters of Bharath Reddy allegedly installed a banner related to the Valmiki statue unveiling in front of Janardhan Reddy's residence in Ballari.
Following the incident, the government had suspended Pavan Nejjur, who had taken charge as SP of Ballari on January 1.
He was suspended on the grounds that he did not act effectively in handling the situation and failed to properly brief senior officers about the ground situation.
The opposition BJP had accused the government of making the SP a "scapegoat" by suspending him.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
