PIL on conservation of Kempegowda’s fort: Karnataka HC issues notice to state government, ASI
Bengaluru: Karnataka High Court has issued notice to the state government as well as the Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI) after hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) related to the conservation of fort of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda situated in Magadi.
The petition, filed by Dr. HM Krishnamurthy of Magadi, who is the President of the Kempegowda Development Committee, was heard on Friday by the two-judge divisional bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Poonacha.
The bench issued notices to the Kannada and Culture Department, Bengaluru Archaeological Survey Department, Commissioner of the Archaeological Department, Deputy Director of the Department, Magadi Urban Development Authority, Magadi Town Development Council and Ramanagara Deputy Commissioner in relation to the fort conservation, before adjourning the petition.
Senior advocate DR Ravishankar, who represented the petitioner, said that the fort was built in the 17th century by Kempegowda, who was the chief commander in the army of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Commissioner of the Archaeological Department has submitted a report regarding the conservation of the fort. Pictures taken using drones have been presented to understand the condition of the fort. A 30-foot-tall wall has been constructed for conservation of the fort, but a part of the fort wall has been destroyed, nevertheless, the advocate added.
He also hit out at the government for not taking the initiative to work at conservation of the fort wall well before a PIL was filed by a citizen.
The petitioner has asked for conservation of Kempegowda’s fort, the moat of the fort and various sculptures, monuments and a temple constructed by Kempegowda in the fort. The moat has been closed in the east, west and north while in the south, the construction is half-closed by the K-Ship company for widening of the Bengaluru-Kunigal Road, he said.
The petitioner added that the Magadi TMC has permitted roadside vendors to set up stall on three of the moats, which has greatly affected the condition. Referring further to the stalls, Dr. Krishnamurthy has said that the vendors have defaced the wall by driving nails into it.
Maintenance of hygiene is a major problem in the fort, where people now not only answer nature’s calls but also consume liquor, he added.
Dr. Krishnamurthy urged the bench to issue notices to the concerned officials to take measures for the conservation of Kempegowda’s fort.
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Karnataka: Six men break into jewellery shop; loot gold, silver worth over Rs 40 lakh
Haveri (Karnataka) (PTI): Six unidentified men allegedly broke into a jewellery shop and decamped with gold and silver articles worth over Rs 40 lakh in this district in the wee hours of Saturday, police said.
The theft occurred at a jewellery shop in Chikkanshihosur village in Hanagal taluk of Haveri district between 1.45 am and 2.30 am, they said.
According to police, the six men, with their faces covered and wearing gloves, allegedly broke into the shop after midnight by cutting open both shutters.
After gaining entry, they covered three of the four CCTV cameras installed inside the shop and decamped with a safe locker. However, their act was recorded on one CCTV camera that was not covered.
Citing preliminary investigations, a senior police officer said 19 kg of silver items worth Rs 21 lakh and 219 grams of gold ornaments worth Rs 22 lakh were stolen from the shop.
A case of theft has been registered, he said.
“We have some clues about the vehicle used to transport the stolen jewellery, and efforts are underway to trace the vehicle and nab the suspects involved in the theft,” he added.
Further investigation is underway.
