Drug case: TV anchor Anushree quizzed by police
Mangaluru: Television anchor Anushree was on Saturday questioned in connection with the drug consumption and peddling case involving dancer-choreographer Kishore Aman Shetty.
Anushree, who appeared before the police at 9 am, was interrogated for three-and-a-half hours, police sources said.
Anushree told the probe team that she knew Tarun Raj, the close friend of Shetty, who is also an accused in the drug case, for the last 12 years.
He had done dance choreography for her for six months. The anchor said she had no links with Tarun relating to drug use and had not attended any party with him, the sources added.
Talking to reporters after coming out of the police station, Anushree said she had given answers to all the questions put to her by the investigating team.
She said she would come for further interrogation if the police summoned her again. The police have not confirmed whether there will be further questioning, she said.
"Drug mafia is a ghost that has haunted our state and the police are trying their best to root out the mafia.
We will cooperate with the investigation," she added. Anushree was summoned after Tarun disclosed to the police that she had also attended Shetty's party. DCP Vinay Gaonkar and inspector Shivaprakash led the probe team.
The state CCB police is investigating drug abuse among bigwigs, including those in the film industry, after the Narcotics Control Bureau arrested three people from Bengaluru with a drug haul.
They were allegedly supplying drugs to Kannada film actors and singers.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
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.
