CM Siddaramaiah directs strict security measures in Bengaluru ahead of New Year
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday instructed police officers to take strict action to prevent any untoward incidents during New Year celebrations here.
The chief minister held a meeting with officials from various departments, including the police, during which he was briefed on precautionary measures put in place.
"All precautionary measures should be taken for the safety of women during the New Year celebrations. It should be ensured that no untoward incident occurs," Siddaramaiah was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his office.
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He also directed that arrangements be made to ensure a large number of Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses are available after midnight to facilitate people returning home safely after celebrations.
Steps should be taken to prevent overcrowding at key areas, including Mahatma Gandhi Road, Brigade Road, Church Street, Koramangala, and Indiranagar, he said, adding that modern technology should be deployed appropriately to manage the crowds.
Noting that 20,000 personnel have been deployed in Bengaluru for security, Siddaramaiah said, "This time we are deploying 1,200 police officers from other districts. Women police should be deployed in large numbers. Chennamma forces should be actively deployed."
He said 4 control rooms, 78 watchtowers, 164 women’s help desks, and 55 ambulances have been arranged to ensure smooth New Year celebrations in the city, and pointed out that 3,500 drink-and-drive cases have been registered in the past three days.
The chief minister added that two-wheeler traffic will be stopped on 50 flyovers in the city on New Year’s Eve.
Instructing authorities to maintain constant vigil on miscreants, he said, "Activities such as wheeling of bikes should not be allowed, and strict measures should be taken to control drug-related activities. These activities cannot be tolerated under any circumstances."
Home Minister Parameshwara, Chief Minister’s Political Secretary Naseer Ahmed, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, State Director General of Police M A Salim, City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, GBA Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao, and senior police officers were present at the meeting.
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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.
