Udupi: The Bengaluru CCB Division police on Tuesday detained two persons, including Chaitra Kundapura, Hindu activist known for her provocative speeches, in Udupi, on charges of duping a businessman from Byndoor and a BJP leader of crores of rupees after promising to get them BJP tickets in the last Karnataka Assembly elections.

A letter, stating that Chaitra Kundapura and her accomplices, who convinced a businessman that he would be given a BJP ticket and duped him of Rs 7 crore, had gone viral on social media. The businessman had allegedly filed a complaint in Bengaluru, and the CCB Police in the state capital detained Kundapura, who had been absconding since the incident, in the parking area of the Shri Krishna Mutt in Udupi.

The police have also detained Shrikanth Nayak Pelattur in relation to the incident. Both Nayak and Kundapura were taken to a remote area for questioning by the police team. The police had earlier detained up to six people, including Gagan Kadur and Prasad, in the case.

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Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.

Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.

In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.

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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.

According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.

"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.

The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.