Bidar man dies after banned Chinese manja slits throat while riding motorcycle
Bidar: A 48-year-old man was killed after a glass-coated Chinese manja slit his throat while he was riding a motorcycle in Karnataka’s Bidar district, police said on Friday.
The deceased was identified as Sanjukumar Gundappa Hosamani, a resident of Bambulgi village in Bidar taluk. The incident occurred on January 14 near the bridge at Talamadagi village in the Chitguppa area.
Police said Hosamani was travelling to Humnabad to bring his daughter home from her hostel for the Sankranti holidays when the accident took place. As he passed through the stretch, a banned nylon kite string coated with glass, reportedly stretched across the road, became entangled around his neck, causing a deep and fatal cut. He collapsed on the road and bled heavily, dying at the spot.
Videos that surfaced on social media showed Hosamani lying injured on the road in a pool of blood, reportedly attempting to make a phone call to his daughter moments before his death. His body was later shifted to a government hospital for a post-mortem examination and was handed over to the family after the procedure.
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A case has been registered at the Mannaekhelli police station under Section 106(1) for causing death by negligence and Section 281 for rash or negligent riding. Police said further investigation is underway.
The incident led to protests by local residents and relatives of the deceased, who demanded strict action against the sale and use of Chinese manja. Protesters alleged that although an ambulance was called immediately, it arrived late, and the delay led to excessive blood loss, contributing to Hosamani’s death.
Bidar Superintendent of Police Pradeep Gunti said the use of Chinese manja is banned and that special checking drives had been conducted ahead of the festival. He said continuous patrolling was being carried out even after the incident and cases were being registered against those found selling the prohibited kite strings. In response to public anger, gram panchayat authorities issued announcements in the area, warning residents against using nylon and glass-coated kite strings.
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CM Siddaramaiah vows more funding for sports in Tumakuru district
Tumakuru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday assured that more funds would be allocated to the sports sector in Tumakuru district and expressed confidence that world-class sportspersons would emerge from the region.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Karnataka Sports Meet 2025–26, organised in Tumakuru.
Emphasising the spirit of sportsmanship, the Chief Minister said that in sports, victory and defeat are secondary, while sportsmanship is paramount.
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He urged athletes to uphold discipline and values, stating that dedication, hard work and perseverance, along with proper training, are essential for achieving success in sports.
Siddaramaiah said the government is committed to encouraging sportspersons and has implemented reservation policies in government jobs to support them.
He noted that a 3 percent reservation has been provided in the police department, ranging from the post of constable to Deputy Superintendent of Police, while a 2 percent reservation is available across various government departments.
The Chief Minister added that sportspersons who have participated in or won medals at the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and other national and international events are eligible for reservation benefits. Medal-winning athletes are also being encouraged through cash incentives, he said.
Acknowledging demands for improved sports infrastructure in the district, Siddaramaiah said there is a requirement for a hockey stadium and a world-class swimming pool in Tumakuru and assured that additional funds would be provided to strengthen sports facilities in the district.
