SIT hunting for 2 conspirators in Kalburgi killing
Bengaluru, May 3: The Special Investigation Team probing the killing of rationalist M M Kalburgi is hunting for at least two persons directly involved in the crime, sources in the SIT said Friday.
Kalburgi was shot dead on August 30, 2015 by two motorcycle borne assailants, who entered his house in Dharwad posing as students.
The criminal investigation department was investigating the case.
However, the Supreme Court hearing a petition by Kalburgi's widow Umadevi ordered in February this year that the SIT, which cracked journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh murder case, should investigate this as well as there were similarities between the two killings.
Investigating officer in the SIT, M N Anucheth, refused to divulge any detail except for saying they have started investigation.
While probing the Lankesh murder case, the SIT arrested 16 people belonging to an organised gang of right wing people but two are still at large.
SIT suspects that a few members of the same ring were also involved in Kalburgi's murder.
Two bike-borne assassins shot dead Lankesh, a Left leaning journalist known for her strident anti-Hindutva views, on September 5 2017 evening outside her house in Bengaluru.
According to the SIT, Parashuram Waghmare was the hitman while Ganesh Miskin rode the bike.
Two other rationalists Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare were also killed in a similar way in Maharashtra and investigating agencies suspect that all the cases were interconnected.
SIT officials suspect the involvement of Miskin in Kalburgi's murder.
Waghmare and Miskin are among the arrested.
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No more street vending on B’luru’s main roads, as govt plans to bring new policy for street hawkers
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday said that the state government has decided to formulate a new policy for footpaths in Bengaluru, under which street vending will not be allowed on main roads and sub-main roads.
Addressing the media after a budget preparation meeting and executive meeting of GBA corporations at Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar said discussions were held with MLAs from the GBA region regarding the corporations’ budgets and key civic issues.
Leader of Opposition R. Ashok also participated in the meeting and shared his views. Officials from multiple departments, including police, BESCOM, BMRCL, BWSSB and BDA, along with ministers and legislators, were present.
He stated that all five municipalities have prepared their individual budgets, while MLAs have submitted their demands, including calls for ward-wise grants.
“We have decided to bring a new policy for footpaths. Citizens are struggling to walk as footpaths are encroached upon by street vendors,” Shivakumar said.
Highlighting the need to balance livelihoods and public convenience, he added that “a separate space will be provided for street vendors, and specific roads will be designated for their business,” ensuring that pedestrians can use footpaths without obstruction. He noted that there was unanimous agreement among MLAs on this approach.
Issuing a warning to vendors, Shivakumar said that authorities will act against those violating the rules. “If vendors operate during the day and leave their carts on the roadside at night, authorities will clear them. People should be aware of this,” he said.
Providing data on street vendors, he said that around 60,000 vendors have registered so far, of which 30,000 have applied for vehicles, and a tender has already been floated.
“Only those with street vendor identity cards will be allowed to do business. Those without ID cards will not be permitted to operate on the streets,” he added.
