BC Road: Sangh Parivar members assault police officer assuming him to be Muslim, arrested
Bantwal: In a disturbing incident of immoral policing, two individuals associated with the Sangh Parivar were arrested in Thumbe for their involvement in assaulting a police officer and his family, assuming that the officer was a Muslim and was accompanying a Hindu girl.
The arrested individuals were identified as Manish Poojari and Manjunath Acharya, both residents of Tumbe.
The incident occurred on the night of July 27 when Kumar Hanumantappa, a police officer posted at the Bantwal DYSP office, was returning home after having dinner at a hotel on BC Road with his wife and sister-in-law. As they were heading back, the accused, who were standing in front of a bar, began following them.
The accused, who were on a bike, stopped Kumar and he identified himself as a police officer. However, they refused to listen and made derogatory remarks, claiming he was not a policeman but a member of the Beary community. Ignoring Kumar's explanations, they continued to behave aggressively and issued threats, as stated in Kumar's complaint.
Additionally, a complaint was filed against the accused for filming a video of Kumar's wife and attempting to molest her.
The Bantwal city police station has registered a case against the accused for obstructing the duty of a policeman, and for molesting and assaulting Kumar and his family. Following initial investigations the police team have arrested both the accused and are further investigating the matter.
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Gehlot changes profile pic to 'Save Aravalli', asks Centre to reconsider definition
Jaipur (PTI): Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Thursday urged the Centre to reconsider its definition of the Aravallis, warning that any damage to the mountain range posed a serious threat to the ecological future of north India.
Gehlot, a former Rajasthan chief minister, changed his social media profile picture in support of the nationwide 'SaveAravalli' campaign amid growing debate over mining and environmental safeguards in the Aravalli Range.
It was his symbolic protest against the new interpretation under which hills lower than 100 metres are no longer being recognised as part of the Aravalli system, he said.
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"The Aravalli cannot be judged by tape measures or height alone. It must be assessed by its ecological importance," Gehlot said, adding that the revised definition raised "a big question" over the future of north India.
Appealing to the Centre and the Supreme Court, Gehlot said the issue must be reconsidered in the interest of future generations and environmental security. He also urged citizens to participate in the campaign by changing their display pictures online to draw attention to the issue.
He said the Aravalli range functioned as a natural green wall against the expansion of the Thar desert and extreme heatwaves, protecting Delhi, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. Opening up smaller hills and so-called gap areas for mining would allow desertification to advance rapidly, he warned.
Gehlot also flagged concerns over air pollution, saying the hills and forests of the Aravallis acted as the "lungs" of the National Capital Region by checking dust storms and absorbing pollutants.
"When pollution levels are so alarming even with the Aravalli standing, one can imagine how disastrous the situation will be without it," he said.
Highlighting the water crisis, the former chief minister said the rocky terrain of the Aravallis played a crucial role in groundwater recharge by channelising rainwater underground.
"If the hills are destroyed, drinking water shortages will intensify, wildlife will disappear and the entire ecology will be pushed into danger," he said.
Gehlot argued that, from a scientific perspective, the Aravallis was a continuous chain and that even smaller hillocks were as vital as higher peaks.
