After killing mahout, Dasara elephant Gajendra kills fellow elephant Srirama

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March 17, 2015

Mysuru, Mar 17: Fiery-tempered tusker Gajendra, which used to take part in Mysuru Dasara Utsav, has now killed another Dasara elephant.

Dasara elephant Srirama, known as the Nishane or Naupat elephant, succumbed to injuries at K?Gudi located in Biligiriranga Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve on?Monday.

srirama

Dasara elephant Srirama was known as the Nishane or Naupat elephant

Gajendra, who is in masth had started a fight with?Srirama on Sunday evening. He gored his mahout Ganapati to death, and later attacked Srirama causing injuries which led to his death. Srirama, about 59 years old, was captured from Tithimathi forest in 1969 under the pit method.

Elephants are known to become aggressive when they are in masth, and so has been the case with 56-year-old Gajendra, who has now broken off his shackles and fled from the camp. He is yet to be traced, and a major hunt is on for him. Gajendra is also one of the royal elephants, having donned the role of ‘pattada aane.’ He has so far taken part in 19 Dasaras.

Around four to five teams have been formed by the Forest department to capture the elephant.

Officials are desperately hoping that the elephant will eventually make its way back to the camp on its own.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, S S Lingaraju, Conservator of Forests and Director of BRT, said that domesticated elephants are being brought from various camps in the region to capture Gajendra.

Lingaraju said Ganapathi was a permanent employee of the Forest department and facilities would be extended to his family as per the government norms. One of the family members would get a job in the department on compassionate grounds, he added.

Dr Nagaraj, veterinarian of the Forest department, said that Gajendra’s behaviour was unprecedented, as it had never displayed such aggressiveness when it has been in masth the previous times. “This shows that the wild animal behaviour is unpredictable,” he said, adding that even domesticated elephants can become aggressive during masth.

He said that camp elephants are usually allowed into the forest to graze and mate. “The elephants are used to the drill and return to the camp. We are hopeful that Gajendra too will return on its own,” he said. However, the operation to track the elephant has been taken up to prevent any other untoward incidents.

Srirama, who died at 59, measured 2.65 metres in height. He was captured at Tithimathi forest range in 1969, and had taken part in the Dasara 14 times, as the flag bearer. Srirama was reared at Amba Vilas Palace for five years, before being shifted to K Gudi camp.

Members of the Wadiyar family, Vishalakshi Devi and Shashidevi, paid their last respects to the elephant. The elephant had not taken part during the last Dasara, as his leg was injured.

Gajendra, measuring 2.8 meters in height, was incidentally captured with the help of Srirama at Kattepura Forest Range of Kodagu district in 1987. The elephant has participated in?Dasara 19 times.

The last rites of Ganapathi were performed at Nagapura Tribal Rehabilitation Centre, near Hunsur in Mysuru district. He was serving as a permanent employee for the past three years at K Gudi elephant camp. Earlier, he was employed at Nagarahole National Park.

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News Network
November 11,2024

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Udupi, Nov 11: The Karkala town police in Udupi have arrested Krishna Naik, the sculptor responsible for installing a 33-foot Parashurama statue at Umikkal Hill in Bailur, Karkala taluk. 

Naik, the owner of Krish Art World and a resident of Bengaluru's Visvesvaraya Layout, was apprehended in Mahe, part of the Union Territory of Puducherry, for allegedly substituting a look-alike statue in place of a genuine bronze figure at the Parashurama Theme Park in Karkala.

Udupi Superintendent of Police Dr. Arun K confirmed the arrest, stating that Naik faces charges under Sections 420 (cheating) and 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code. 

This legal action followed a complaint lodged in June by Krishna Shetty, a resident of Nallur village, Karkala. Shetty claimed that Naik had received a payment of ₹1,25,50,000 from Udupi Nirmithi Kendra for the installation of a bronze Parashurama statue. However, Naik allegedly deceived the government by installing a replica instead.

The statue was unveiled on January 27, 2023, by then Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. Current Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has since ordered a CID investigation to probe deeper into the alleged fraud surrounding the statue's installation at the theme park.

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News Network
November 3,2024

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta has called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the alleged embezzlement of Waqf properties. This demand follows findings from the Anwar Manippady committee's report, which reveals that while 54,000 acres of land are registered with the Waqf Board, approximately 29,000 acres have been misappropriated.

Capt. Chowta emphasized the need for a thorough investigation, stating, “A comprehensive probe should be conducted based on this report. Those who have illegally encroached on these properties must be held accountable.”

He challenged the Congress party, suggesting that if they genuinely care for the Muslim community and underprivileged women, their members should actively participate in the Joint Parliamentary Committee discussing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024. This participation is essential to ensure that Waqf properties are used effectively for community welfare.

The MP criticized the notices served to farmers in Honvada village, Vijayapura, which stated that nearly 1,200 acres of their ancestral land was being reassigned to the Waqf Board. He expressed that this issue arose while the NDA government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is working on amendments to the Waqf Act. He accused the Congress-led state government, particularly Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, of trying to enforce outdated 50-year-old notifications about Waqf properties. After the farmers raised concerns, Minister M. B. Patil clarified that the confusion was due to an error in the gazette.

Chowta alleged that Congress members in the Joint Parliamentary Committee are obstructing proceedings and causing disruptions. He expressed suspicion that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah might have instructed Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan to implement these outdated notifications regarding Waqf properties. As a result, he demanded the Minister's resignation.

He accused the Congress party of exploiting Muslim voters for the past 75 years without making substantial efforts for their welfare. Furthermore, he highlighted that the BJP is launching a campaign against land jihad, pointing out that the Waqf Board controls one of the largest land banks after the Defence and Railways sectors. Finally, he urged citizens to check the revenue records (RTC) of their land ownership to verify its status.

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News Network
November 3,2024

Mangaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar emphasized the urgent need for local job creation and a dedicated tourism policy to address communal tensions and rejuvenate the Dakshina Kannada region. 

He spoke during "Ashoka Jan-Mana," a clothing distribution event organized by Rai Estates Educational and Charitable Trust, under the leadership of MLA Ashok Rai, at Kombettu’s taluk stadium in Puttur on Saturday.

“There are challenges to communal harmony across the coastal and interior regions of Dakshina Kannada. To counter these issues, we must provide opportunities for our youth," Shivakumar stated. "The government is considering a specialized tourism policy for the coastal areas to attract more visitors and retain local talent."

Shivakumar expressed concern about a rising trend among local youth to migrate to Saudi Arabia, Mumbai, and Bengaluru due to limited job opportunities in the area. "Communal disturbances have also discouraged students from other districts from enrolling in our institutions, and several banks that originated here have closed down," he said.

Highlighting the region's potential, Shivakumar remarked, “Dakshina Kannada is home to many temples and boasts a rich coastline. Yet, despite Mangaluru having a major port, we still lack five-star hotels. Developing tourism here will be essential for creating jobs and fostering harmony.”

He also hinted at development projects proposed by Ashok Rai for Puttur, which are currently under wraps due to by-election restrictions. Assuring commitment, Shivakumar said, “Although we secured only two seats in Dakshina Kannada, we are committed to developing all constituencies in the region.”

The Deputy Chief Minister concluded with a powerful message on leadership, likening Ashok Rai to a modern embodiment of ancient virtues. “For success, one should have Dharmaraya's righteousness, Karna's generosity, Arjuna's focus, Vidura's ethics, Bhima's strength, and Krishna's strategy. Ashok Rai has all these qualities," he said, praising Rai’s dedication to the people of Dakshina Kannada.

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