Three held for robbery at businessman's house in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): Three men were arrested for allegedly robbing gold jewellery and cash worth lakhs from the house of a real estate businessman here by posing as policemen and entering the premises on the pretext of checking CCTV footage in connection with a case, police said on Tuesday.
With the arrest of the accused, out of the robbed assets, 429 grams of gold jewellery and Rs 10 lakh in cash, worth a total of Rs 52.90 lakh, have been seized, they said.
The matter came to light on February 16 when the resident of BEL Layout here lodged a complaint at Byadarahalli police station here, police said.
According to the complaint, while he and his wife were at home that afternoon, a man introduced himself as a Police Sub-Inspector from Yelahanka police station and said he wanted to check the CCTV footage of the house in connection with a case under investigation.
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When the victim told him that he didn't know to operate the CCTV monitor, the accused brought one of his associates who pretended to operate the CCTV monitor, he alleged.
After locking the door, the accused in uniform threatened the complainant and his wife with a knife, tied their hands and legs, a senior police officer said.
The accused then robbed about 677 grams of various gold ornaments kept in a cupboard in a room, Rs 20 lakh cash and two mobile phones before fleeing, he said.
During the investigation, police gathered information that the main accused involved in the robbery was released on parole from Hindalga Jail in Belagavi. After committing the robbery at the house in Bengaluru, he returned to jail, he added.
Later, he was taken into police custody, during which he revealed the names of two other associates, police said.
He also disclosed that part of the robbed jewellery had been kept in one of his associates' house in Shivamogga while the remaining was hidden at his house in RR Nagar, they said.
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Karnataka govt takes steps to prevent drinking water shortage in rural areas during summer
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Bengaluru (PTI): The state government has initiated proactive measures to ensure that rural communities do not face drinking water shortages during the upcoming summer season, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said on Tuesday.
The district administrations have been instructed to closely monitor the situation and take immediate measures, including hiring private borewells on a rental basis and supplying water through tankers wherever required.
To strengthen water availability, dried borewells will be restored through flushing and deepening, while new borewells will be drilled in unavoidable cases based on technical recommendations from geologists, said Kharge, the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, and Information Technology & Biotechnology.
"Along with restoring dried borewells, we have directed Gram Panchayats to conduct water quality testing and ensure proper cleaning of overhead tanks so that safe drinking water is available to rural communities," he added.
An official statement issued by the minister's office said that as several parts of the state experience dry conditions during summer, many existing rural water sources tend to run dry, leading to potential shortages.
To address this, the government has put in place daily monitoring mechanisms and directed officials to take immediate action wherever shortages arise, it said.
To ensure the supply of safe drinking water, Gram Panchayats have been instructed to collect samples from all drinking water sources, conduct water quality testing from at least three tap connections in each village and ensure the cleaning of all overhead tanks as per prescribed guidelines, it added.
According to official data, drinking water shortages have already been reported in 183 villages across 144 taluks in 21 districts of the state.
"Currently, 183 villages are facing drinking water shortages. Of these, 31 villages are being supplied water through 96 tankers, while 152 villages are receiving water through 154 rented private borewells. District administrations have been directed to address the situation on priority," the minister said.
According to him, during March 2026, approximately 1,053 borewells are expected to be repaired through flushing and deepening. In emergency situations, new borewells will also be drilled wherever necessary.
To ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply during the summer of 2026, funds for emergency works will be mobilised from the Central and State Drought Relief Funds as well as the department's Task Force funds, he said.
The minister also directed Gram Panchayats, Taluk Panchayats, and district administrations to work in close coordination to effectively manage and maintain drinking water supply across rural areas.
