GOVERNMENT TO BUILD BRIDGES IN FLOOD PRONE AREA;

The district in charge minister Mr.Alangur Srinivas directed the Public Works Department to prepare an action plan to construct bridges at places where roads submerge in floods. He opined that the bridges would be built by taking the assistance from NABARD.

He directed the officials to prepare the plan immediately in his visit to Kodagu, yesterday. The minister held the district officials meeting to learn about the flood effects and action initiated by the district administration.

Mr.Srinivas also said that the government has already released rupees one crore towards flood relief and another crore is sanctioned to take up works and pay compensation. He also directed the officials to take health precautions in flood prone areas.

The Deputy Commissioner Mr.Subodh Yadav informed the minister that a report claiming rupees 6.5 crores as loss due to heavy rainfall. The district has incurred a total loss of rupees 13 crores so far, he said.

Meanwhile, members of Cauvery sene, led by Mr.ravi Chengappa shouted slogans against the minister as he was entering old assembly hall. They lambasted him for his delay in visiting the district in spite of the rain crisis. They demanded all mining activities in the district should be stopped as they are causing landslide and land cracks.

They also threw vague allegation against a lady tahasildar who retaliated on the stage and demanded the minister to conduct an enquiry.

The minister later visited few damaged spots yesterday and today and listened to the grievances. Meanwhile, the youth congress members led by Shanthalli Lokesh gheraoed the minister at Somwarpet as he did not turn up at a time Somwarpet was reeling under fear due to heavy rainfall and trembling of earth.

ACCUSED ATTEMPTS SUICIDE;

An accused in a rape attempt case attempted suicide yesterday at Somwarpet police station and was sent to hospital for treatment.

A resident of Somwarpet, Navin tried to molest a girl along with two others on third and was arrested by police. According to police, he removed the tube light and stabbed himself by breaking it in the lock up. He is out of danger, according to doctors.

The rape attempt victim is also undergoing treatment.

LAD FROM KODAGU DIES AT GOA;

Mandepanda Ashwin Thimmaiah,22, a youth from Kodagu running a hotel at Goa died there in a road accident on first.

Ashwin died as his bike hit a speeding jeep in the morning as he was on his way to Gym.

The cremation was conducted there only.

MASS MARRIAGE HELD;

Almadina organization of Kodagu held a mass marriage yesterday at madikeri.

Four poor and orphan girls were married in function witnessed by many including Swamiji from Kalanchakeri mutt of Arameri.

Speaking on the occasion, Abu Sufian Madani urged the mass not to accept dowry during marriages as it a curse since weddings are sacred part of culture and life.

Kazri Tajul Ulma Syed Abrurehman conducted the Nikah.

FIVE FACE LIFE IMPRISONMENT;

Five out of seven accused attempting to murder a youth during 2003 are given life imprisonment .

The sessions judge yesterday pronounced the judgement and slapped life imprisonment to Gundappa, Ganesh, Anand, Hoovanna and Vanajakshi to have brutally attempting to kill one Kalegowda over a proerty dispute. Three others were slapped small imprisonment for assisting in the crime.

The accused kidnapped the victim at somwarpet taluk and took him to a place called Madre. He was forced to sleep on a platform like jesus’s crucification. The gang held him tight and amputed both his palms and cut his knees and left him probably thinking he is dead. But he survived.