Banjara community pontiff attempts suicide against SC internal reservation in Karnataka
Haveri (KTK), Apr 4: A Banjara community pontiff on Tuesday allegedly attempted to end his life by hanging near B R Ambedkar's statue in Shiggaon town, protesting against the internal reservation for Scheduled Castes by the BJP government.
Shiggaon is the home town of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai from where he got elected to the Karnataka Assembly.
The protestors from the Banjara community led by Thippeshwara Swamiji of Gundur alleged that the internal reservation has done injustice to them, as they were getting more reservation percentage in the earlier scheme of things.
The Swamiji with a large number of his followers from Banjara community held a rally in the town. The pontiff then climbed on the stairs next to the Ambedkar statue and on the pretext of garlanding it, he tried to hang himself from the grill of the staircase.
Immediately, policemen and onlookers saved him. The pontiff was rushed to a hospital in Shiggaon where his condition was said to be serious.
Days before the Assembly election dates were announced, the Karnataka government led by Basawaraj Bommai decided to give internal reservation for the Scheduled Castes. It recommended 6 per cent internal quota for SC (Left), 5.5 per cent for SC (Right), 4.5 per cent for "touchables" (Banjara, Bhovi, Korma and Korcha etc) and one per cent for others. The State government later forwarded the recommendation to the Centre for approval.
A few days ago, BJP strongman B S Yediyurappa felt the heat of the Banjara agitation when people from the Lambani community, especially youth, threw stones on his house and damaged the window panes.
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Speeding car kills lawyer, injures two others in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): A High Court lawyer was killed after being allegedly hit by a speeding car, which later rammed into a two-wheeler, injuring two others here, police said.
The deceased was identified as N Ramachandra Reddy (61). The injured were identified as Bharath (19), who was riding the scooter, and Swati (23), the pillion rider, police said.
The accident occurred at around 7.28 pm on December 17 and was captured on a CCTV camera, police said.
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According to police, Reddy was crossing the road near RMV Club in Dollars Colony in the Sanjaynagar area when a car, allegedly being driven at high speed in a rash and negligent manner, hit him.
The vehicle then moved forward and collided with a scooter, knocking down Bharath and Swati and causing injuries to them.
The driver subsequently lost control of the vehicle and rammed into two parked cars, damaging all the vehicles involved, a senior police officer said.
Reddy was rushed to M S Ramaiah Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The two scooter riders were taken to Shirdi Sai Hospital for treatment.
The driver of the car, later identified as Shishir Patil (18), also sustained minor injuries and later appeared before the police. He is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital, police said.
Preliminary investigation suggests the accident occurred due to rash and negligent driving, police added.
A case has been registered under Sections 281 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 125(2) (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 106 (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Further investigation is underway.
