Karnataka Women's Commission demands high-level probe against BJP MLC C T Ravi
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka State Women's Commission has urged state Legislative Council chairperson Basavaraj Horatti to order a high-level inquiry into the alleged use of derogatory remarks by BJP MLC C T Ravi against Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar inside the House on December 19.
The Commission chairperson Nagalakshmi Chowdhary wrote to Horatti saying BJP leader Ravi has insulted the women and their dignity.
"Requesting a high-level investigation into the reported incident that C T Ravi, Member of the Legislative Council, insulted the Minister for Women and Child Development Laxmi Hebbalkar by using vulgar and unconstitutional words," she wrote in her letter.
A former Minister, who is in a responsible position and should have immense concern and respect for girls, has used the lowest level of unconstitutional words against a woman minister in this esteemed house, which is an insult to the women of the country, their feelings and their dignity, she added.
She requested Horatti to consider this matter seriously and order a high-level investigation.
Ravi was arrested on December 19 soon after the incident in Belagavi on the concluding day of the winter session of Karnataka Legislature.
Later, the MLC was brought to Bengaluru. The Karnataka High Court ordered his release, saying his arrest was illegal as due procedure was not followed.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
