B'luru student spends Rs 35 lakhs meant for education, sets house on fire to distract dad, arrested
Bengaluru: A 22-year-old BTech graduate, Ranjith Vivek, was arrested for setting his own house on fire to divert his father’s attention after spending Rs 35 lakhs of the Rs 1.10 crore his father had given him to pursue higher education abroad.
The incident occurred in Hiradahalli village, and initially, police suspected that miscreants had set the house ablaze. However, after reviewing CCTV footage from a nearby camera, the police grew suspicious of Vivek’s movements, as reported by The New Indian Express on Thursday.
Upon questioning, Vivek admitted to the crime, confessing that he had spent the money on gambling and a girl.
He further revealed that he feared his father, Jagannath, a member of Bidarahalli Gram Panchayat in Bengaluru East taluk, would demand the money back. To divert his father’s attention, Vivek decided to set the house on fire.
To execute his plan, Vivek disconnected the CCTV cameras in his home, but he was still caught on a nearby camera. Police revealed that he had purchased 20 liters of petrol in six cans, using four cans to ignite the fire, TNIE added.
At the time of the incident, Vivek, his parents, and sibling were inside the house. Fortunately, they managed to escape unhurt. The family alerted the fire department, but by the time the fire was extinguished, most of the household items had been completely destroyed.
Vivek has been booked under multiple charges, including attempt to murder.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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.
ALSO READ: Chinese GPS tracker found on seagull near Karwar Coast
"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.
