FARMER ELECTROCUTED;

Madikeri October 20, 2006

A farmer died at his field yesterday as he came into contact with a live wire.

According to police K.S.Chandra Shekar, 45 left his house at Kanive near Kushalnagar yesterday morning around nine a.m. The family went looking for him in the field as he did not return till afternoon. They found him dead near the pump in the field. They also noticed that the electric wire connected to pump was cut by a rat. Later it was discovered that he came into contact with the live wire while trying to switch on the pump.

Police and public rushed to the spot. Former MLA Appachu Ranjan assured to get compensation sanctioned to the family.

SAHITYA SAMMELAN AT MURNAD;

Taluku Kannada Sahitya Sammelan would be held at Murnad Pandane ground on November third.

Announcing this in a press conference, district Sahitya Parishath president T.P.Ramesh stated that N.Mahabaleshwara Bhat would preside over the third, Taluk level Sammelan.

He said that a colourful procession would be taken off in the morning after flag hoisting at 8.30 a.m. The Sammelan would be inaugurated by Professor S.G.Siddaramaiah. MP Sadananda Gowda will release a book and advocate Balasubrahmanya will inaugurate a book stall.

Lectures and seminars would be held till evening.

FISHY DEAL INVITES PICKETING;

Tension prevailed at Gonicoppa town yesterday as a fishy action by few elected members of Gram panchyath invited lightning protest.

Fish merchants and few Gram Panchayath members picketed the GP office and demanded immediate action. They alleged that GP officials and few contractors forcibly seized fish being delivered to a hotel belonging to a GP member.

Police intervened as the situation was going out of control. As the hell was letting loose, police officials mediated and assured that the hotel owner would be compensated with cash. They also stated that seizing fish was done not according to law.

Controversy exists at Gonicoppa as GP has banned selling of fish brought from outside. Only authorized contractors are assigned to distribute it. But the merchant class alleged that the quality of fish being distributed by them is poor in quality and high in rate. Hence, fish being brought to a hotel was seized and destroyed by the GP along with contractors. But the merchants said that GP cannot stop them from buying it from outside.

LOKAYUKTA TRAPS ITDP OFFICIAL;

Lokayukta here has trapped an ITDP officer receiving bribe from a person.

It is alleged that officer G.Seetharamappa and clerk N.B.Chandra Shekar were caught red-handed at Ekalavya residential school at Virajpet. The officer was found receiving rupees fifteen thousand, while the clerk received five thousand for a favor to be done. The graft was demanded to release the stipend amount and certificates to a computer institute, Sadguru of Madikeri in connection with the training given to Tribes under a special scheme. The officials were allegedly demanding rupees two lakh to release stipend to over three hundred candidates.

Lokayukta SP, Eshwarachandra Vidyasagar from Mysore and local officials carried out the raid. Cases are registered against the accused.