CM Bommai removes R Ashoka as minister in-charge of Mandya
Bengaluru, Feb 10: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said he is "freeing" state Revenue Minister R Ashoka as the Mandya district in-charge minister.
The announcement came barely a fortnight after he was made in-charge of Mandya district.
Bommai said the decision was taken on Ashoka's request as he had many other responsibilities to take care of.
"Ashoka had requested me to free him from the Mandya district in-charge responsibility. Heeding to his request, I will issue an order freeing him from the responsibility of Mandya district in charge minister," the Chief Minister told reporters.
According to Bommai, the Revenue Minister himself volunteered to give up the additional responsibility. "There is one change in the district in-charge minister. Ashoka had written a letter to me," Bommai said.
The Chief Minister explained that Ashoka was instrumental behind issuing over 50,000 'Hakku Patra' (ownership deed) to those dwelling in Lamani Thandas. A similar drive will be carried out in Davangere Lamani Thanda.
Also, there will be Hakku Patra distribution to 10,000 people in and around Bengaluru, he added.
Ashoka will have to oversee the programme of deputy commissioners of the districts visiting villages. He also heads the Kempegowda and Basaveshwara statue committee, Bommai said.
"Since he has to give time and do justice to all the works he has taken up, he had requested me to free him from the Mandya district in-charge responsibility," the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister had appointed Ashoka as the in-charge of Mandya district replacing Excise Minister K Gopalaiah.
A day later, many posters with messages 'Ashoka go back', and 'Boycott Ashoka' dotted prime locations of Mandya. Speculations are that leaders and workers of his own party in Mandya had opposed his appointment as the district in-charge minister and put out the posters.
The development came at a crucial juncture when the assembly elections are less than three months away and winning Mandya district, which is considered to be a Janata Dal (Secular) bastion, is important for the ruling BJP.
Neither Ashoka nor Gopalaiah were available for comments.
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.
Bomb threat emails received by multiple district collectorates in UP, turn out to be hoax
Lucknow, Apr 15 (PTI): Emails claiming that bombs were planted in four district collectorate offices in Uttar Pradesh triggered a security alert on Tuesday, but nothing suspicious was found after the buildings were evacuated and extensively searched.
Soon after the emails were received by authorities in Firozabad, Aligarh, Barabanki and Chandauli, bomb disposal units, anti-sabotage checking teams, dog squads and local police were swiftly mobilised to the respective collectorate premises. All buildings were evacuated and thoroughly searched, officials said.
Authorities in all four districts said that no explosives or suspicious items were found.
Investigations are on to identify those responsible for sending the hoax emails, they added.
In Aligarh, a senior police officer told reporters, "Soon after the email was received, security forces reached the District Magistrate's office and evacuated the premises. A thorough inspection of the entire complex was conducted. While no suspicious items were found, the inspection is still ongoing as a precaution."
The official added that the threatening email was received on the official email ID of the Aligarh District Magistrate.
In Barabanki, District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi said, "Today, we received a threatening email on the official ID, claiming that explosives like RDX were planted in the collectorate campus.
"Though the information did not initially seem credible, we immediately alerted the Superintendent of Police and called in the bomb disposal squad, which carried out a thorough search. No suspicious object has been found so far. Efforts are underway to trace the source of the email."
Barabanki City Circle Officer Sumit Tripathi said the origin and authenticity of the email remain unclear.
"Investigations are ongoing to determine whether this was a mischief attempt or part of a larger conspiracy," he said.
In Chandauli, District Magistrate Nikhil Tikaram Funde said a person identifying himself as Gopal Swami had sent an email warning of a possible bomb blast at the collectorate, allegedly linked to political issues in Tamil Nadu.
"The sender even listed a Tamil Nadu address. We immediately alerted the Superintendent of Police and launched a complete search of the collectorate premises. Nothing suspicious was found. The email content appeared frivolous and lacked credibility, but we still acted with full caution," the DM said.
In Firozabad, a similar threat was received via email around Tuesday afternoon, stating that explosive material had been placed in the District Magistrate's office.
Superintendent of Police (City) Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Upon receiving the email, a bomb disposal team, dog squad, local police from Matsena police station, and the SOG team carried out an intensive search of the premises. No explosives were found."
A case has been registered at the cyber police station based on a complaint by the Matsena SHO, and authorities are working to trace the sender of the email.
