MES observes black day in Belagavi
Assaults Kannada activist: Lathi charge
Belagavi, November 1: When the people have been celebrating the Kannada Rajyotsava across the state, MES workers have observed black day and conducted a rally against Karnataka in Belagavi on Thursday. When they tried to assault a Kannada activist who held a Kannada flag, police caned and dispersed them.
Hundreds of MES workers wearing black shirts participated in the rally at Shivaji Circle in the city. They demanded Belagavi should be included in Maharashtra and shouted anti-Kannada slogans against Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations.
Suddenly, a few MES workers, who were in the rally, pelted stones at people to disturb the peace. Though the police tried to pacify them, they continued to pelt stones. Later, the police caned them to disperse. Belagavi deputy mayor Madhushree Poojary was present at the rally.
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'Someone must be held accountable': HC converts civil suit on Goa nightclub tragedy into PIL
Panaji (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Monday converted a civil suit against Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) saying "someone has to be held accountable" for the tragedy in which 25 people were killed.In a stern observation, Goa bench of the High Court of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ashish Chavan said the local panchayat had "failed to take suo motu cognisance" of the club and had taken "no action despite complaints."
The division bench directed the Goa government to file a detailed reply on the permissions granted to the nightclub.
The High Court, while fixing January 8 as the next date of hearing, pointed out that commercial operations were continuing in the structure despite it having been served a demolition order.
The original petition was filed after the December 6 tragedy by Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar and Sunil Divkar, the owners of the land on which the nightclub was operating.
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Advocate Rohit Bras de Sa, the lawyer representing the petitioner, was made amicus curiae in the matter and has been asked to file a detailed affidavit in the matter.
In their petition, Amonkar and Divkar highlighted "the alarming pattern of statutory violations that have remained inadequately addressed despite multiple complaints, inspections, show-cause notices, and even a demolition order".
They contended that these violations posed "immediate threats to public safety, ecological integrity, and the rule of law in the state of Goa."
Investigations by multiple agencies into the nightclub fire have revealed various irregularities, including lack of permissions to operate the nightclub.
The Goa police arrested five managers and staff members of the club, while co-owners Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra have been detained in Thailand after they fled the country.
