Karnataka: Case against MLA's son for taking out march with hunted wild rabbits
Raichur (PTI): A case was registered against Congress MLA Basanagouda Turvihal's son Satish Gouda, his brother and others on Tuesday after purported videos of them allegedly taking out a march displaying hunted wild rabbits hung on shafts in public went viral, police said.
The forest department registered a case on its own under the Wildlife Protection Act against Satish, his brother Siddanagouda, Durgesh and others, they said.
Basanagouda Turvihal represents Maski Assembly constitutency.
The purported videos of the incident that took place on Monday in Turvihal town in Sindhanur taluk of this district showed them displaying those hunted wild rabbits which were hung to shafts they were carrying on their shoulders and parading on the main roads.
They were also seen flashing deadly weapons and dead rabbits in full public view.
According to officials, the event was apparently part of a religious event.
"A video of taking out a march after hunting rabbits in Turvihal has come to our light and a case was registered suo motu today by the forest department. In that video the MLA's family members - his son Satish Gouda, Siddanagouda, his brother and one person named Durgesh are seen," Puttamadaiah M, Superintendent of Police (Raichur) said.
According to the forest department, the case registered under the relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 included sections 9 (prohibition of hunting), 48 A (restrictions on transportation of wildlife) and section 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
"We have registered a case under relevant sections of the wildlife protection Act. As per protocol, the matter was brought before the magistrate, following which a case was registered and the matter is under investigation. We have identified the three main suspects who have been named in the case along with others," a senior forest department official said.
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.
50 Munambam residents join BJP after Waqf (Amendment) Bill passed
Ernakulam: Hours after the Parliament passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 50 residents from Munambam, a coastal village at the centre of the ongoing Waqf land dispute in Kerala, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). All of them are Christians who had previously supported the Congress and CPI(M), according to Joseph Benny, convener of the Munambam protesters’ action committee.
The move came as BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar visited Munambam and addressed the local protesters, assuring them of continued support. “This is an important day in the state's political history. This agitation has given strength to the Prime Minister and Parliament to pass the amendment Bill. We will be with you until you get back revenue rights over the land,” Chandrasekhar said. He added that the Bill has the potential to restore land rights to the people of Munambam and accused their elected MPs and MLAs of betrayal.
Around 600 families, mostly Christians, have been protesting for over 170 days after the Kerala State Waqf Board staked claim to the 400 acres of land they have inhabited for generations.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Church-linked Malayalam daily Deepika criticised the Congress and CPI(M) for rejecting the Church’s demand that their MPs support amending “anti-people sections” of the Waqf law. It accused them of attempting to instil fear among minorities by citing Sangh Parivar attacks on Christians in northern states and Manipur.
The BJP has positioned itself as the only party backing the cause of Munambam residents, while accusing both CPI(M) and Congress of prioritising Muslim interests in Kerala. Though both LDF and UDF later extended support to the Munambam agitation, their MPs voted against the amendments.
The Munambam area falls under the Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency, represented by Congress MP Hibi Eden, and the Vypen Assembly segment, represented by CPI(M) MLA K N Unnikrishnan.
