Om Prakash is new DG&IGP

March 1, 2015

Bengaluru. Mar 1: Senior IPS officer Om Prakash on Saturday took charge as Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) of the State.

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A 1981 batch IPS officer, Om Prakash received the baton from L R?Pachuau, who attained superannuation, at the State police chief office marking the change of guard. He was the Director General of Home Guard and Fire Force before being elevated as the DG&IGP.

Om Prakash will have about 23 months at his disposal as he will attain superannuation in January 2017.

A native of Piprasi village, Champaran district in Bihar and an MSc (Geology) graduate, Om Prakash vowed to serve the police force according to norms and address the issues of prevention, detection and investigation of crimes.

“I believe in team spirit and unity as no single individual can achieve anything significant in police force. Though policing is a tough job, I feel great things could be achieved with duty-mindedness, having a sense of responsibility, following the strict mandate and practising the principles of unity and team spirit,” Om Prakash, who has to his credit the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Services and President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, said.

He said the issues of terrorism and traffic would be his top priorities and he would also stress prosecution. “I seek the cooperation of subordinate staff as credit for commendable job goes to them,” he added.

Pachuau thanked the government for providing him an opportunity to serve at the highest position in the police force. He said he could well address two terror cases --- an explosion near BJP office in Malleswaram in Bengaluru on April 17, 2013 and a crude bomb blast at Church Street on December 28, 2014, --- arrest a few suspected ultras, tackle the exodus of people from North East region due to meticulous probe and planning by subordinate staff.

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“I leave the office with full satisfaction as I am leaving the force in the safest hands of Om Prakash,” he added.

Legal battle ahead?

There was suspense till 5 pm on Saturday about who would replace L?R?Pachuau as a note from the government said the new DG&IGP will take charge around 5.20 pm. The staff at the State police chief office went on making preparations even as they anxiously waited for the specific name from the government. An official communication was received around 5.10 pm stating that Om Prakash has been elevated to replace Pachuau.

The issue of appointment of DG&IGP is likely to witness a legal battle as Sushant Mahapatra, one of the contenders for the top post, deciding to challenge the government’s decision in the court. Mahapatra claims that he was senior to Om Prakash and the government did ignore the court’s directions of considering seniority while making appointment to this coveted post.

Mahapatra was absent when Pachuau handed over the charge to Omprakash. The government had finalised the names of CBI additional director R?K?Dutta, Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation DGP Sushant Mahapatra, CID DGP Bipin Gopalakrishna and Om Prakash for the post.

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News Network
March 15,2024

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Bengaluru, Mar 15: Work from home to using toilets in malls, residents of India's 'Silicon Valley' Bengaluru are exploring all options to combat the unprecedented water crisis. People across various neighbourhoods have been forced to order food from restaurants and take bath on alternate days due to the water scarcity.

Even those in high-rise apartments equipped with water harvesting systems now find themselves reliant on water tankers for basic needs, leading to stringent usage restrictions.

Eateries are mulling over use of disposable cups, glasses and plates to avoid excess use of water.

Educational institutions are also feeling the pinch. Recently, a coaching centre in the city asked its students to attend classes online due to an 'emergency' for a week. Similarly, a school on Bannerghatta Road was also closed, asking students to attend classes online just like they did during the Covid pandemic.

Residents have come with up new methods to try and conserve water. With temperature rising, it is difficult to avoid a daily shower but they are left with no option but to take bath on alternative days, said Sujatha, a resident of KR Puram.

"What to do? Clean vessels, cook food, wash clothes....so, we have started using paper plates, that way we have cut down on our water usage. And we order food twice a week. We are using the washing machine only once in a week now," she said.

Some others have resorted to visiting a mall to take a shower or use the toilet facilities.

Lakshmi V, an IT professional living in Singasandra, has been requesting her firm to allow WFH option so that she and her family can temporarily shift to her native place in Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu until the situation becomes better.

"If the situation persists, we are thinking of seeking a work from home option. We are planning to move to our native place in Tamil Nadu temporarily till rain arrives here," she said.

Bengaluru primarily gets its water supply from two sources - Cauvery river and groundwater. For most non-drinking uses, recycled water processed by sewage treatment plants is used. With no rain for a while now, the primary sources have been stretched to their limits. Bengaluru needs 2,600-2,800 million litres of water daily, and the current supply is half of what's required. The result is a daily struggle for the city's residents.

The brunt is also being borne by people living in the outskirts of Bengaluru, especially in 110 villages that were merged with the city in 2007.

The crisis has also turned into a political battle between the state's ruling Congress government and the opposition BJP with Lok Sabha just weeks away. While the BJP has held several protests blaming the government, the Congress has accused the BJP-ruled federal government of not providing financial assistance to drought-hit Karnataka.

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News Network
March 27,2024

Bengaluru: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday launched simultaneous raids in multiple places, including Bengaluru and Shivamogga.

Reports suggested that the ongoing raids are in connection with the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe on March 1. The blast had injured at least ten people as per the police report.

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) had launched an investigation alongside the NIA, and the trail of the suspect led them to Tumakuru first and subsequently to Ballari. Investigators believe that the bomb was planted by Mussavir Hussain Shazib, a handler of the Islamic State’s Shivamogga module who was aided by another IS handler called Ahmed Taahaa.

Sources in the know said that Shazib and Taahaa had stayed in Chennai for about a month between January and February using fake credentials. The names of the suspects were identified after they traced the cap worn by Shazib to a shop in a mall in Chennai. The cap, which was abandoned by the bomber in Bengaluru after the blast, was reportedly bought by Taahaa, around January-end.

As per the NIA, Shazib hails from Masjid Road in Thirthahalli, Shivamogga district, and Taahaa from Fish Market Road, Soppu Gude, Thirthahalli Rural. Both "wanted" suspects have been termed "absconders" by the NIA.

The NIA has questioned seven jailed terror suspects so far in connection with the blast. The investigation agency had also obtained seven-day custody of a jailed terror suspect named Maaz Muneer Ahmed.

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News Network
March 16,2024

Mangaluru: In the wake of complaints regarding middlemen menace, sleuths of Lokayukta on Friday, March 15, conducted a raid at the Mangaluru Urban Development Authority. 

The Lokayukta team found unaccounted money and several files, which were not disposed of for a long period.

Lokayukta SP CA Simon said that the Lokayukta has received complaints that middlemen have been interfering in the MUDA office, and files pertaining to the public are not being cleared on time.

A raid that commenced in the evening on March 13, lasted for 18 hours. During the raid, Lokayukta officials found cash in a bag in MUDA office, and also with officials and others. MUDA officials could not inform the source of money found in their office, the SP said.

Further, he said that many people gathered at the MUDA office during the Lokayukta raid, and have raised complaints about the harassment at the urban development authority. “We have gathered evidence for MUDA officials carrying out file disposal processes through brokers on phone calls. The investigation on the MUDA network will be continued,” he said.

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