99% speed breakers in Karnataka highways 'unscientific': Minister C C Patil
Bengaluru(PTI): Karnataka Public Works Minister C C Patil on Monday admitted that 99 per cent of speed breakers on the state's highways and roads are "unscientific".
The Minister said this in the assembly while responding to a question raised by senior Congress MLA K R Ramesh Kumar during question hour, seeking details on authorized roads humps or speed breakers on the 52-km Hoskote-Madikeri Cross road and 82-km national highway 234 connecting Mulbagal and Chikkaballapura.
Patil, in his written reply, said the 52-km road has 33 authorized 'raised pedestrian crossings' and that 70 out of 84 road humps on NH 234 are unscientific.
Unhappy with the answer, Kumar asked, "Are there any procedures for this? Is there anything-why it should be put and by whom? If there are so many unscientific humps, are there no officials? Why do you lay the roads spending crores?"
Questioning whether officers don't conduct inspections, he demanded that the minister suspend the engineers concerned. "If you suspend officials, then such speed humps will go....if there are some protests by locals, humps are put...to whom have you given this state to?"
Conceding that road humps have become a menace, Patil said suspending officials was not the solution and that unscientific road humps come up at the behest of locals and at several instances, they get it installed by getting the contractor, in the absence of officials.
"I agree that of all speed breakers, 99 per cent won't be scientific...with the help of district Deputy Commissioners and Police, we will make all honest efforts to remove unscientific road humps," he said, adding that this problem was not created overnight.
Further, Kumar questioned Patil as to why he was "not applying his mind" with regard to the road leading to the Kempegowda International Airport.
"You have the police to check speeding. You also allow tempos, auto rickshaws and scooters on the same road. People wanting to catch their flights on time get late," he said.
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Delhi: Father, son held for killing 19-year-old woman in suspected honour killing
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a man and his son for allegedly murdering his 19-year-old daughter in west Delhi's Hari Nagar area, an official said on Friday.
The case first came to light on April 1 after a PCR call was received around 2 pm, alleging that a woman had been killed by her family members and her body was being taken for last rites, he said.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Maneer (55), a vegetable vendor, and his son Meraj Ali (19), were arrested in connection with the case, the officer said.
The victim had been in a relationship with a man from her native place for the past two years, which was opposed by her father, Maneer and brother Meraj, he said.
"When the girl did not end the relationship despite objections, the family killed her," the officer said.
On April 1, the police said that when their team reached the spot, they found that the woman's body was being taken for burial.
Acting on the input, the burial process was stopped over suspicion of honour killing.
"Police intercepted the family members and took possession of the body," he said.
Police said that the man who had made the PCR told them that the woman was in love with his cousin.
During the inquiry, police also interacted with the PCR caller, who said his cousin, a friend of the deceased, had informed him about the situation and suspected foul play, prompting him to alert the police control room.
The body of the woman was subsequently shifted to the mortuary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for preservation and postmortem.
Police said that both the crime team and the forensic science laboratory (FSL) team were called to inspect the scene and collect evidence.
Police said that, as per the postmortem report, the cause of death was identified as smothering, indicating that the woman was suffocated.
A preliminary inquiry also revealed that the family had initiated preparations for the last rites soon after the woman's death, raising suspicion about the circumstances.
Initial investigation pointed to the family's opposition to the woman's relationship.
"The family members of the woman saw her with the man, and she was taken back home. We got to know that she was beaten up and even locked inside the house for some days," a source said.
Further investigation into the matter is underway, police added.
