Belthangady: MLA Harish Poonja surrenders before Police
Belthangady: Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja surrendered before the Belthangady police station around 9.30 pm on Wednesday, following high drama at his residence throughout the day.
Throughout the day, activists prevented the police from taking the MLA into custody. As a result, the police had to issue a summons notice for him to appear at the station. Finally, around 9:30 pm, MLA Harish Poonja voluntarily surrendered at the Belthangady Police Station.
Case was registered against Harish Poonja under IPC sections 143, 147, 34, 504, 506 and 149 at the Belthangady Police station for allegedly abusing and threatening the police personnel on Monday.
On May 18, Poonja along with his supporters sat on a dharna at the police station and also reportedly abused cops, condemning the arrest of a local BJP leader in an illegal stone quarry mining case on Saturday night.
In addition, the MLA had also led a protest in front of the Belthangady Vikas Soudha, allegedly without seeking any police permission. Poonja is also accused of threatening the police personnel by stating that the station (Belthangady) would meet the same fate as the police station at DJ Halli-KJ Halli in Bengaluru, which were attacked during a communal riots in 2020.
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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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