Two held with 6.4 kg ganja at Gadag railway station
Bengaluru (PTI): Two persons were arrested for possessing 6.4 kg of ganja worth around Rs 6.46 lakh at Gadag railway station, police said on Monday.
According to the Railway Protection Force (RPF), the arrests were made on October 26 during a special drive under 'operation NARCOS', when RPF personnel at Gadag railway station noticed two men, both around 20 years old, sitting on platform number one with two backpacks in a suspicious manner.
On questioning, the duo revealed that they were residents of Dharwad district. A search of their bags led to the recovery of two bundles wrapped in grey and brown tape, suspected to contain dry ganja, the RPF said in a statement.
"The excise department was informed, and the excise sub-inspector of Gadag Range arrived at the spot. The seized substance, weighing about 6.465 kg and valued at approximately Rs 6.46 lakh, was confiscated after completing legal formalities," the statement added.
Both accused were handed over to the excise department for further legal action, the RPF said.
In another case, Bengaluru Customs earlier in the day said they intercepted a passenger arriving from Bangkok at Kempegowda International Airport and seized 2.2 kg of hydroponic ganja hidden in his luggage.
Officials said the passenger's checked-in luggage had a false bottom on both sides. On inspection, four packets containing 2.2 kg of hydroponic weed (ganja) were found in the concealed compartments.
The contraband was seized, and an investigation is underway to determine the source and destination of the narcotics, they added.
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Veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa laid to rest with full state honours
Bengaluru (PTI): Veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa was laid to rest with full state honours on Monday.
The 94-year-old former minister, who passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Sunday, was cremated at the Kalleshwara Mill premises, following Veerashaiva-Lingayat traditions.
Earlier in the day, Shivashankarappa's mortal remains were brought to his native Davanagere, where they were kept at the high school grounds for the public, his followers, and well-wishers to pay their last respects.
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Expressing deep sorrow over his demise, the Karnataka government ordered that his last rites be performed with full state honours.
Both the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Council also mourned his passing, adjourning their sessions for the day after paying tributes.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa, several ministers, opposition leaders, legislators, and political figures paid their respects.
A number of seers from the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community also attended the last rites.
Shivashankarappa represented the Davanagere South Assembly constituency. He had been undergoing treatment at the hospital for some time before succumbing to age-related ailments.
The senior-most legislator in Karnataka, Shivashankarappa, was also one of the longest-serving lawmakers in the country, sources said.
He is survived by three sons, including S S Mallikarjun, the Karnataka Minister for Mines, Geology, and Horticulture, and four daughters. His daughter-in-law, Prabha Mallikarjun, is the Member of Parliament from Davanagere.
A six-time MLA, Shivashankarappa also served as a minister and an MP.
He was a prominent educationist, establishing several educational institutions, and was an industrialist.
Additionally, he served as the treasurer of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) for decades and was the president of the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, the apex body of the influential Veerashaiva-Lingayat community.
