Karnataka govt approves distribution of laptops worth about Rs 17 crore for SC trainees of ITIs
Bengaluru, Dec 12: The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday gave administrative approval for procurement and distribution of laptops free of cost to Schedule Caste trainees (Final Year) of government aided and private ITI's for 2019-20, at an outlay of about Rs 17 crores.
"5,331 laptops will be procured at an estimated cost of Rs 16.98 crores," Law and Parliamentary Affairs MInister J C Madhuswamy said after the cabinet meeting.
The cabinet also gave approval for construction of tourist plaza at Pattadakal, an UNESCO World Heritage site in Bagalkot district at estimated cost of Rs 29.25 crore for tourism development.
"The plaza will come up over an area of 24 acres on the banks of river Malaprabha.
It is aimed at creating infrastructure facilities with an intention of making Pattadakallu tourism spot of global standards," the Minister said.
It would include restaurant, open air theater, amphitheater, toilets, stalls, information and conference centres, landscaping, digital interpretation centre among others under one roof.
Among other decisions taken at the meeting include, constitution of cabinet sub committee to make suitable recommendations to amend the Bangalore Development Authority Act, aimed at regularising, irregular or unauthorised constructions in BDA layouts.
Ratification of the action taken for orders issued on November 7, giving administrative approval to the DPR for construction of Chikkaballapura medical college at a cost of Rs 525 crore was also among the other decisions taken on Thursday.
The cabinet has also approved provision of government guarantee for Rs 1,550 crore to Karnataka State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development (KSCARD) Bank limited for availing NABARD refinance during the year 2019-20.
The Minister said, cabinet has asked the irrigation department to look into a proposal by a private trust to rejuvenate Dakshina Pinakini river at the cost ofRs 2600 crore in a phased manner, with the help of various philanthropic, CSR funds, and banks.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
