Bengaluru (PTI): Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R Ashoka on Friday alleged that the law and order situation in the state has collapsed with 979 cases of sexual assaults on girls reported in the past four months, including over 114 in Bengaluru alone.

Ashoka has also written to the chairperson of the National Commission for Women, Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar, seeking her intervention.

In a post on X, Ashoka wrote, "The law & order in Karnataka has collapsed. In just 4 months, 979 sexual assaults on girls. Bengaluru alone: 114+ cases. Our women & children are living in fear due to the @INCKarnataka government's criminal inaction."

He said, incidents like "brutal rape and murder of a tribal girl in Mysuru" and the "suicide of a librarian in Kalaburagi due to harassment" reflect a moral and administrative failure.

In his letter to Rahatkar on Thursday, Ashoka expressed deep anguish and alarm over the surge in heinous crimes against women and minors, saying the situation represents a humanitarian and moral crisis. Citing official data and media reports, the BJP leader said, "deterrence has failed completely."

Ashoka urged the Commission to take cognisance of the issue on its own, send a high-level fact-finding delegation to Mysuru, Kalaburagi, and Bengaluru, and seek a report from the state government and police on crimes against women and minors over the past six months.

Ashoka also urged the NCW to recommend urgent corrective measures to strengthen policing, ensure victim protection, and revive women's safety mechanisms like helplines and shelter homes.

"The government's silence and inaction in the face of such atrocities are unacceptable," he wrote, adding that "Karnataka, known for its progressive values, cannot afford to let its women and children live in fear and insecurity." ADB

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



New Delhi (PTI): A Zurich-bound Swiss International Air Lines' flight carrying 232 passengers aborted take off at the Delhi airport early Sunday due to an engine issue, sources said.

Six passengers are undergoing medical evaluation, an airline spokesperson said without elaborating.

Smoke was observed from the port side of one of the landing gears of the A330 aircraft that was operating the flight LX147 to Zurich. The flight crew aborted the take off and full emergency response was initiated, the sources said.

In a detailed statement, an airline spokesperson said there were 228 passengers and four infants on board.

"Shortly after takeoff, just after 1:00 am. local time in India, an issue occurred with one of the engines. The crew rejected the takeoff and, following an assessment of the situation, decided as a precaution to evacuate the aircraft," the spokesperson said.

Six passengers were receiving medical attention, the spokesperson added.

"All passengers and crew evacuated the aircraft via the emergency slides.Six passengers are currently undergoing medical evaluation. For a small number of individuals who were unable to use the slides, stairs were provided," the spokesperson said.

According to the spokesperson, Swiss technical specialists will travel to Delhi to inspect the aircraft and initiate the next steps.

The airline is known as Swiss.

At the same time, the spokesperson said the airline was working intensively to find a swift and suitable onward travel solutions for all passengers.