Hanur temple tragedy: Many people still critical
Hanur, Dec 15: The condition of many people who fell sick after consuming poisonous food at Kichkuth Maramma temple at Sulvadi village in the taluk on Friday, is still critical. Total 11 persons died in the incident.
The incident happened after consuming the ‘Prasad’ distributed during the foundation laying programme for the pinannacle of the temple. Total 94 persons were treated at Kollegala hospital so far. Those who were in critical condition were shifted to Mysuru hospital. Currently there are no patients in Kollegala and Kamagere hospitals and all of them were shifted to Mysuru, said a doctor.
District Minister CH Puttaranga Shetty, MP Druvanarayan, MLA R Narendra visited the spot today morning. The district Minister met the patients and the family members of the dead in hospital and consoled them.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Puttaranga Shetty and MLA R Narendra said that those who are in critical condition were being treated in various hospitals in Mysuru. A high level investigation would be conducted into the incident for which they have already discussed with the Home Minister, they said.
The Minister, MP and MLA have promised of helping the affected families. Among those who consumed ‘Prasad’, two were identified from Tamil Nadu and are being treated in hospital. Shivanna (50) and Puttamadevi (50) from Baraguru village in Tamil Nadu. In the beginning they were treated at Erode hospital. But now they were shifted to a hospital in Mysuru.
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BJP, TMC hail SC directions on counting of votes for West Bengal polls
Kolkata (PTI): The BJP and TMC on Saturday both hailed the SC directions on the Election Commission's circular over the deployment of central government personnel for vote counting in West Bengal.
The apex court on Saturday said no further order was necessary on the TMC's plea challenging the Calcutta High Court's dismissal of its petition against the April 13 circular.
In a social media post, BJP leader Amit Malviya said, "In yet another legal setback, the Supreme Court has refused to intervene. The Trinamool Congress had approached the court challenging the exclusion of state government employees from vote-counting supervisor duties, and had sought an urgent hearing."
"The refusal to entertain this plea underscores a clear message -- attempts to influence or cast doubt over the integrity of the counting process will not find easy validation. Another day, another judicial rebuff for Mamata Banerjee," he added.
The TMC, however, claimed that the SC directions vindicated its stand.
"The issue raised before the Hon'ble Supreme Court pertained to the implementation of the said communication in a manner whereby only Central Government/Central PSU employees were being appointed as Counting Supervisors and Counting Assistants for counting of votes," the party said in a statement.
The TMC said it was highlighted that such an interpretation and implementation of the communication would be contrary to the framework of a fair and balanced counting process.
"After hearing the parties, the Hon'ble Supreme Court directed that Clause 1 of the communication dated 13.04.2026, relating to the appointment of Counting Supervisors and Counting Assistants, must be read along with the salient feature contained in the second page of the said communication, which provides for random selection of both State Government and Central Government employees," it said.
"The Hon'ble Supreme Court has further recorded the undertaking of Mr Dama Seshadri Naidu, learned Senior Advocate appearing for the Election Commission of India that the said communication shall be followed in its letter and spirit," it added.
The TMC said that in view of the directions, it is expected that the counting of votes shall be conducted in a fair, transparent, and balanced manner.
A special bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi said the EC can choose the counting personnel, and its April 13 circular, which provides for deployment of state government employees as well, cannot be said to be incorrect.
The poll body said the apprehensions of TMC of any wrongdoing are misplaced, as the circular very clearly states that there will be a mix of central and state government employees.
The EC assured the court that the circular would be implemented in letter and spirit, and there would be state government employees also during the counting of votes on May 4.
Polling for the 294-member West Bengal assembly was held in two phases -- April 23 and April 29. The counting of votes will be taken up on May 4.
On April 30, the Calcutta High Court dismissed the TMC's petition against the Election Commission circular, saying there was no illegality in the poll panel's decision to appoint counting supervisors and assistants from Central government and Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) employees, instead of the state government staff.
