CONGRESS DEMANDS ZP CHIEFS RESIGNATION;

Madikeri June 1, 2006

The elected members of Congress in Zilla Panchayath have demanded resignation of the president Ashok.

Addressing a press conference here, members Sanjay, Raja Rao, M.K.Nanjappa, Kalaiah and others alleged that the president by beating his own car driver has brought shame to the Parishath and he has to submit resignation. They also urged the police to arrest him immediately on charges of abusing and insulting a Sc driver.

They disclosed that the president has so far changed seven drivers in his term of five months due to his misbehavior.

Meanwhile they stated that elected members indulging in goondaism assaulted the Gram panchayath president Mukunda of Gonicoppal, but an attempt to murder case was booked against him, budging to political pressure.

DRIVERS TAKES COMPLAINT BACK;

The car driver of the Zilla parishath president Ashok has taken back the complaint lodged at Kushalnagar police station.

It can be recalled that driver Raju had alleged that president Ashok assaulted him and abused him on the night of 28 May. Alleging that the police did not file a case, a press conference was called by the dalitha sangarsha Samithy. Condemning police inefficiency, they had threatened to hold dharna, if a case is not registered against Ashok. However, police registered a case the next day and were looking for him to be arrested.

A group led by MLA K.G.Bopaiah, ZP member V.P.Shashidar, K.P.Chandrakala and others yesterday solved the issue over the table and persuaded Raju to take back the complaint. Raju in turn filed an application to police stating that he has lodged the complaint by mistake.

LAND ARMY ACCUSED OF SUBSTANDARD WORK;

The Town panchayath, Somwarpet has passed a resolution to with hold payment to Land army, alleging substandard work.

The members alleged in the meeting that the check dam built by the land army at a cost of rupees 10.5 lakh was of substandard and water is leaking by its side. The meeting decided to withhold payment of due amount rupees1.35 lakh to land army.

FLOOD SWEEPS A PERSON TO DEATH;

Madikeri June 1, 2006

Flash floods at Bhagamandala today swept a sixty year old person to death.

Though the fury of the five day incessant rainfall in kodagu has subsided, the flood situation in many parts continues. This was the first death reported due to rain fall here, this season.

According to police Marati S.Venkata, 60 of tannimani village near bhagamandala was swept away by river Kannike. Venkata was returning home from the market with household materials. Kannike took him off balance as he was crossing a footbridge.

A passerby saw him shouting for help, hanging on to a branch in the middle of the river. Police and public who arrived at the spot could not trace him, as the flood had swept him away within minutes. While the incident occurred around 11.30 P.M., the body was traced, entangled to a bush inside the water by 1.30 pm.

Venkata leaves wife and a daughter. Body was cremated after autopsy.

Cauvery, Kannike and Sujyothi form confluence at Bhagamandala.