No major untoward incidents in Karnataka, Bengaluru during New Year celebrations: Minister
Bengaluru, Jan 1 (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said new year celebrations across the state including here were peaceful, without any major untoward incidents.
Extending new year greetings, he said, people have celebrated the new year "responsibly".
"The new year was celebrated across the state. In Bengaluru, we had expected more people (over 10 lakh) to participate in the celebrations, but according to the police department an estimated seven to eight lakh people participated. I too monitored things from the command centre till 1:30 am," Parameshwara said.
ALSO READ: Bengaluru rings in New Year with colour, music, people throng temples across state
Speaking to reporters here, he said, for the first time 20,000 police personnel were deputed in Bengaluru city for the new year celebrations, and there have been no untoward incidents or traffic jams or major accidents anywhere.
Responding to a question on some people allegedly throwing ganja and other materials from outside, into the prison in Belagavi, reportedly for the prisoners, and a video of it surfacing, the Home Minister said he has spoken to DG Prisons Alok Kumar in this regard.
"He will be visiting Belagavi, Kalaburagi and other places," the minister said.
Regarding the increasing number of robbery cases in some places including Belagavi, Parameshwara said that the police department has taken note of it and there is a suspicion about involvement of robbery gangs from outside.
"We are following up, whether robbery gangs have come from outside. Necessary action will be taken," he said.
ALSO READ: TN ushers in 2026 with night of rivalry, early morning temple visits and rain
He said he visited Hubballi on Wednesday to meet the family of a young woman, who was killed recently by her father and other relatives, following her inter-caste marriage by going against them.
"We are in a modern world, India is growing at a fast pace. Society needs to change. Such killings won't send the right message. More than legal action, awareness in the society is also important," he added.
Noting that for the first time in the police department more than 30 officials were promoted at DIG and IG ranks together, the Home minister said, they have been given the responsibility.
"As they are all well trained IPS officers, it is expected that they will serve the state better," he said, as he also assured that probes by CID and Special Investigation Teams in certain important cases, "multiple murders, rapes and burials" in the temple town of Dharmasthala will be completed at the earliest.
Further, pointing out that the state police department has for the first time got Rs 350 crore for modernisation, the Home Minister thanking the central government, also complimented efforts by officials including ADGP S Murugan for this.
"It will help in modernising the department," he added.
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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.
