Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said that anyone speaking in favour of Pakistan is wrong and it amounts to treason.

He however said that inquiry is on in connection with alleged "mob lynching" of a man, accused of of shouting 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogan, in Mangaluru.

"If the Pakistan Zindabad slogan was shouted, it is wrong, whoever it is. Inquiry is still going on, a case has been registered, let the report come. It will be clear as to what action should be taken against whom," Siddaramaiah said, responding to a question by reporters on killing of a person in Mangaluru allegedly for shouting 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogan.

"If anyone speaks in favour of Pakistan, it is wrong, it is treason," he added.

Home Minister G Parameshwara said, a person was "lynched" in Mangaluru, and while interogating those behind the incident, they have claimed that the victim shouted 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogan.

"It is being further investigated. Only those arrested said this. Nearly 20 people have been arrested now. Police are also finding out about the person (deceased) and his origins. We have taken the incident seriously. Further investigations are on and there were many people who had gone to play the cricket match. They are all being questioned to gather information. Investigation is very serious," he said.

When asked if the deceased person was from Kerala's Wayanad, Parameshwara said, there is such information and it needs to be verified, by establishing his identity and contacting his parents.

To a question, were there any failure on the part of the police as there are reports that they allegedly tried to project it as suicide initially, he said, "We have no such information. If any such thing is there it will come out from the investigation. If any police failures are identified, appropriate action will be taken,"

The Home Minister assured that the case has been taken seriously and there should be no apprehensions that it is being taken lightly.

However, according to police, the deceased has been identified as Ashraf from Pulpalli village in Sultan Bathery Taluk of Wayanad district in Kerala.

The incident had happened during a local cricket match near the Bhatra Kallurti temple in Kudupu village on the outskirts of Mangaluru, on April 27, police said.

Ashraf was allegedly assaulted with sticks, resulting in multiple injuries that led to internal bleeding and shock, police said adding he was declared dead at the hospital.

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New Delhi (PTI): From metro station announcements to a QR code-based parking system, a series of measures have been rolled out for Republic Day celebrations along the Kartavya Path in Delhi, officials said on Sunday.

While the metro announcements will guide ticket and pass holders travelling to the parade venue, the QR code-based system will help nearly 8,000 vehicles park at designated locations close to the respective seating enclosures.

All enclosures for this year's Republic Day parade have been named after rivers, and commuters will be directed to specific metro stations depending on whether their allotted seating enclosure lies to the north or south of the Kartavya Path, officials said.

According to the announcements, spectators seated on the southern side and allotted enclosures such as Beas, Brahmaputra, Chambal, Chenab, Gandak, Ganga, Ghagra, Godavari, Sindhu and Jhelum will be asked to get down at Udyog Bhawan Metro Station.

Those holding tickets for the northern side, with enclosures including Kaveri, Kosi, Krishna, Mahanadi, Narmada, Pennar, Periyar, Ravi, Son, Satluj, Teesta, Vaigai and Yamuna, are being advised to exit at the Central Secretariat Metro Station.

Officials said pedestrian pathways have also been aligned with enclosures named after rivers to ensure smoother access and reduce congestion on the parade day.

A senior official said a QR code-based parking system has been introduced to assist spectators arriving by vehicles. The system covers 22 designated parking lots and is aimed at accommodating nearly 8,000 vehicles.

Under the arrangement, parking pass holders can scan the QR codes printed on their passes to access real-time directions to the parking lots closest to their seating enclosures, from where they can walk to their seats.

The official said around 77,000 passes are issued to spectators for the Republic Day parade every year, of which about 8,000 are meant for those arriving by vehicles.

"The system is intended to minimise confusion and streamline vehicle movement during the celebrations," a senior police officer said.

Spectators have been advised to rely on metro services as far as possible and follow announcements and signage for smooth access to Kartavya Path, he added.