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Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘Ready to give Rs 50 lakh. Will they bring back my son?': Day after Bengaluru stampede, victims' kin slam government
A day after a stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru claimed the lives of 11 people as lakhs of people gathered to catch a glimpse of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) cricket team that won the IPL, several family members of the deceased hit out at the government and civic authorities on Thursday for the lapse in arrangements. A schoolgirl, a teenager who was in Bengaluru to collect his transfer certificate, an engineering student, and a civil engineer were among the 11 people who died in the tragedy. 1. Divyanshi B S: A fan who wanted to see Kohli Fourteen-year-old Divyanshi B S was passionate about cricket and a big fan of Virat Kohli. 'She wanted to see him up close. Her wish cost her her life,' Divyanshi's mother, Ashwini U L, said on Thursday. A Class 9 student who stayed in Yelahanka in Bengaluru, Divyanshi was a dancer who wanted to become a veterinarian doctor, her mother said. 'She was a very mature person. In fact, she used to inspire me on how to handle situations in life,' Ashwini said. 'Not just Virat Kohli, she knew the achievements of Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev and even other players,' Ashwini, who had accompanied her daughter to watch the RCB felicitation at Chinnaswamy stadium, added. 2. Manoj Kumar: A father's hopes dashed Devaraj N T, a pani puri vendor in Bengaluru, was watching TV when he saw the news about a stampede at Chinnaswamy stadium. He immediately dialled his son, Manoj Kumar, 20, a BBA student at Presidency College. 'Someone else picked up the phone. I sensed something amiss,' Devaraj said. Kumar's family shifted to Bengaluru 22 years ago. A native of Tumakuru, Kumar stayed with his parents in Yelahanka. 'The police called me and asked me to come to Bowring Hospital. I did not have the courage to see my son's dead body,' Devaraj said. 'He went to the event with two of his friends. He had told me that he would only go to Vidhana Soudha. I did not know that he had gone near Chinnaswamy stadium,' he added. Reacting to the government announcing compensation of Rs 10 lakh, Devaraj said, 'I am ready to give Rs 50 lakh…Rs 1 crore. Will they get my son back?' 3. Prajwal G: Went to stadium despite mother's plea Prajwal G, 22, was an engineering graduate and an employee at a private firm. An RCB fan who celebrated the team's win with friends on Tuesday night, Prajwal ignored his mother's entreaties not to go to the Chinnasawmy stadium on Wednesday. 'He went against my will,' his mother, Pavithra, said on Thursday. Prajwal used to stay at Yelahanka New Town and was the only son of Pavithra and Ganesh. 'By 5.30 pm, I received the call about the incident. I went to the police station and they took me to Vydehi Hospital. There were unidentified dead bodies, and the doctors told me to see them. Hoping that it would not be my son, I entered, and then my life shattered. His body was kept as he slept at home. The government has killed my son,' Pavithra cried. 4. Poorna Chandra: A Mysuru engineer with plans to get married Poorna Chandra, 26, who hailed from K R Pet taluk in Mandya district, worked as a civil engineer in Mysuru and was a big RCB fan. On Wednesday, he was in Bengaluru to meet a woman that his family was keen to see him get married to. 'I had asked him to visit the girl's house. After visiting the house, he went to the stadium. We were not aware of it. By 6 pm, we received the call that he was dead,' Poorna's father, R B Chandru, told the media. His body was taken to his village on Thursday for the final rites. 5. Chinmayi Shetty: Trip with classmates ends in tragedy Chinmayi Shetty, 19, was not an avid cricket fan, but decided to join her classmates as they made their way to the Chinnaswamy stadium to join the RCB celebrations. An engineering student who also studied Yakshagana, Chinmayi was a resident of Doddakallasandra and hailed from Mangaluru. 'She called me over the phone at about 1.30 pm and said that she was heading to the stadium. She did not have a craze for cricket, but went there with her classmates. At 5.30 pm, I received the call that she was dead,' Chinmayi's father Karunakara Shetty said. 'I have lost my daughter. What will I do with the compensation? I want my daughter back,' Karunakara cried. 6. Shivalingu Chandappa: Was in Bengaluru to get his TC Seventeen-year-old Shivalingu, who hailed from Yadgir, was in Bengaluru to receive his transfer certificate. After collecting his documents, he decided to visit the Chinnaswamy stadium. 'I was watching TV and was blaming the public, wondering why they needed to go to the stadium and Vidhana Soudha in such big numbers. I was unaware that my son was also there,' Shivalingu's father, Honnappa, who works as a labourer in Honigeri village in Yadgir district, said. 'By evening, we received the call that Shivalingu was no more,' he added. 7. Bhoomik Lakshman: A fateful outing with friends Bhoomik Lakshman, 19, was a resident of M S Ramaiah Layout. According to his father, Lakshman D H, Bhoomik visited the Chinnaswamy stadium with his friends. 'He did not inform me, but at around 3 pm, he made a video call to his mother and showed her the celebrations. Later, I heard that there was a stampede. I tried reaching him over the phone, but he did not pick up the call,' Lakshman said. 'My son could have been saved if there were proper medical facilities. My son was killed due to the apathy of the civic agencies and the government,' he added.
India Today
4 days ago
- Health
- India Today
In tiger territory, LPG and toilet emerge as big lifesavers
"I feel much safer now. Because of an LPG connection and a toilet at home, we aren't encountering tigers or other wild animals these days in the jungle," says Pavithra S of Asthuru village in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar from Soolekobe village says an LPG connection has reduced her trips to the forest for firewood and, thereby, risks of encounters with wild animals. "Earlier, I made 10 trips a month to the forest for firewood. Now it's just one or two trips," the 30-year-old villager and Sooleke are villages inside the Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary. Both Pavithra and Govindamma have benefited from the LPG connection provided by Holematthi Nature Foundation, a Karnataka-based Maharashtra's Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) have helped bring down incidents of man-animal conflict and casualties, say experts. Experts believe the same is unfolding in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand's Corbett Tiger Reserve and other wildlife forest officials, conservationists and wildlife experts tell India Today Digital how an LPG connection and a toilet at home have helped bring down deaths in attacks by wild animals, even as the overall toll of tiger attacks has increased in India, corresponding with the rising tiger population in the country. Under the Ujjwala scheme, the government provides free connection and subsidised LPG they narrate is how two centrally sponsored schemes – the LPG-providing Ujjwala Yojana and the toilet-building Swachh Bharat Mission – are scripting a success story in faraway forest there is a lack of government data, say experts, there is anecdotal evidence in government, acknowledging the impact, has ordered the construction of toilets on priority in villages within eco-sensitive zones in was after a request from wildlife biologist and conservationist Sanjay Gubbi, whose Holematthi Nature Foundation has over the years witnessed how LPG connections and toilets have helped save focus on toilets and LPG to dissuade villagers from venturing into secluded areas of forests is nothing new for foresters, and there have been state-specific projects as well. However, the Ujjwala and Swachh Bharat schemes seem to be turning out to be pan-India is indeed a silver has seen a spurt in deaths due to tiger attacks, especially since has been an alarming spike in May with 24 people dying in tiger attacks, against 16 lives lost in the same period in IN TIGERS AND TIGER-HUMAN CONFLICTS IN INDIAIndia has 3,682 tigers in the wild, which is 70% of the world's wild tiger population, according to the tiger estimation of 2022. The country has added 1,456 tigers since in itself is a turnaround poaching and habitat loss left tigers on the brink of extinction in India, which led Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to launch Project Tiger in 1973. India had just 1,800 tigers Tiger became a roaring on that, India, in 2010, set a target of doubling its tiger population by 2022, which it achieved by 2018 – with 4 years to the tiger population has increased, jungles have forest cover in India reduced by 92,989 sq km between 2011 and 2021, of which 46,707.11 sq km was lost inside Reserve Forest Areas, according to the Forest Survey of India. Between 2014 and 2024, tiger attacks in India resulted in 621 human deaths, with Maharashtra accounting for the majority of these fatalities. (Image: Getty) With the carrying capacity of forests exceeded, and human activities extending deep inside jungles, the incidents of human-tiger conflicts have seen a big rise. What has made matters worse is the condition of corridors, which connect wildlife habitats and have turned reserves into tiger high tiger density in these fragmented spaces could also be leading to fights among the animals over territory and prey base, forcing out some big cats into fringe areas that see more human to central government data, more than 600 people were killed in tiger attacks in the country between 2014 and 2024, an average of 60 deaths annually. Deaths increased after 2022, correlating with a growing tiger TOILETS ARE SAVING LIVES FROM TIGERS IN TADOBA, CORBETT AND PILIBHITShalik Jogwe, a conservationist and tour operator, from Maharashtra's Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, says that tiger attacks on people, especially women, have gone down since 2015 after the Swachh Bharat toilet scheme was implemented."Women in forest villages used to choose secluded spots to relieve themselves, which saw early morning attacks by tigers," says attacks can be prevented if tigers stay inside jungles and people can be kept away from tiger territory. That is what mitigation efforts are directed Tadoba-based conservationist counts four main reasons behind human-wildlife conflict in forest areas — farming, cattle grazing, minor forest produce (MFP) collection and open defecation."In Tadoba, entire villages would go to relieve themselves in the open earlier. Now, all houses have toilets," says non-timber forest produce collection for sale is a seasonal affair, venturing inside the jungle for firewood and open defecation was a year-round problem, he and ecotourism expert Imran Khan says that both toilets and LPG connections are likely to have helped reduce man-wildlife conflicts in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh by reducing the movement of locals into tiger habitats."Ninety-five percent of the conflicts take place within tiger habitats, which extend all the way into the periphery of the villages. Movement of villagers into high-tiger-density habitats either in Corbett Tiger Reserve or Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is the major cause of man-animal conflict," says Khan. A resident of a village inside MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district with her free LPG hotplate and cylinder. A resident of one such village said the LPG connection had reduced the number of trips she had to make deep inside the forest for firewood. (Credit: Holematthi Nature Foundation) advertisementDECADES-OLD KNOWLEDGE IMPLEMENTED NOWThat toilets and alternatives to firewood can help reduce human-wildlife conflict isn't a recent Bhartari, a veteran wildlife expert and former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of Uttarakhand, says, "Toilets have been a priority for interventions since Uttarakhand's statehood."He says the allocation of four percent of the budget in the community tourism plan for Agora village in Uttarkashi district in 2005 emerged as the most beneficial investment a decade later."Toilets play a crucial role in addressing human-wildlife conflicts in specific locations. However, they are just one component of a broader strategy," says strategies, the expert says, include regularly clearing bushes along pathways, eliminating invasive species in village areas, ensuring adequate outdoor lighting, and proper disposal of food a state with high tiger numbers and tiger-attack deaths, has worked for a decade to reduce forest dependency in villages within and around protected areas. Jitendra Ramgaonkar, the Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife) of Chandrapur, where the Tadoba Tiger Reserve is located, cites Maharashtra's Shyamaprasad Mukherji Jan Van Yojana, which offers Rs 25 lakh grants to forest villages to reduce reliance on forests for livelihood, firewood, or defecation."There has been a big reduction in incidents and deaths where people going to collect firewood or to defecate were attacked by tigers and leopards since the scheme was started in 2015. This is despite a three-time increase in tiger numbers," Ramgaonkar tells India Today HAVE BROUGHT BEHAVIOURAL CHANGES AMONG TRIBALSDoddathayamma, a 40-year-old from Jayammanadoddi village in Chamarajnagar district, says earlier she would frequently hear of fatal attacks by animals, especially by elephants. Such news, she says, has become rare since villagers got LPG connections and Sanjay Gubbi of NGO Holematthi, which works with villagers like Doddathayamma, says there is a lack of nationwide data on these issues."However, at the sites where we work, we have scientifically documented an 85% decrease in per capita firewood usage after alternative energy sources were provided," Gubbi tells India Today forester Jitendra Ramgaonkar says toilets and the safety attached to them have brought about a behavioural change in people."Tribal people who earlier used to go to forests to defecate despite having toilets at home are now using the toilets after seeing that it is safer and protects them from being attacked by tigers and leopards," he might be crucial in preventing attacks by leopards in Uttarakhand's hill districts like Pauri Garhwal and Singh Bargali, Deputy Director, The Corbett Foundation, says leopards are often drawn to human settlements in search of small livestock and occasionally attack children."Providing proper toilet facilities can play a crucial role in reducing human-leopard conflicts in Uttarakhand," he says. Govindamma (L) of Soolekobe village, who received an LPG connection, and Pavithra S of Asthuru village, who got both an LPG connection and a toilet, say their lives are safer now, after the Karnataka-based NGO helped them. (Images: Holematthi Nature Foundation) WHY VILLAGERS STILL VENTURE DEEP INTO FORESTSIf villagers like Govindamma receive LPG cylinders, why do they still need to go into forests and risk encounters with wild animals?Both Jogwe and Khan, the conservationists from Tadoba and Corbett, say that though LPG connections have helped, the villagers aren't getting the number of refills as there is the question of livelihood through the sale of non-timber forest products like honey and tendu leaves. At times, villagers also collect firewood to sell in the expert Bhartari shares an incident from a meeting in Sankar village of Almora district to explain that there is no magic bullet for the issue of human-animal village meeting was held to extend support to Kamla Devi, who had survived a tiger attack in the neighbouring Jameriya village. Both the villages are in the buffer zone of Corbett Tiger women from the Rachnatmak Mahila Manch stated, "Hum jangle jana chhod denge; hum jangle se ghas lana chhod denge; par ye jo hamari dahleej par guldar aur baagh aa rahe hain, unka hum kya karein?"The villagers said they were willing to stop venturing into the forest, but what do they do about the leopards and tigers that are reaching their doorsteps?"There is no one or simple answer to their question. A greater understanding of the conflict through research, detailed planning, and site-specific actions is necessary to effectively address such situations," says conflict is a species-specific issue in sanctuaries that are all unique in their own way, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Small steps like providing toilets and LPG cylinders help in a big way, but they will need to be supplemented with site-specific action."Tigers have adapted to living with human beings and now, it is high time that humans too learn to live with tigers," says Corbett-based Watch
Hans India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Court grants permission to Darshan for foreign travel
Bengaluru: A Bengaluru trial court on Friday granted permission to Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa to travel abroad for film shooting between July 1 and July 27. The 57th City Civil and Sessions Court had earlier reserved its order on Wednesday. Darshan, currently out on conditional bail, had approached the court under Section 439(1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Code, seeking approval to travel to Dubai and Europe. The actor is the second accused in the murder case of his fan Renukaswamy, which allegedly involves his partner Pavithra and 15 others. The Special Public Prosecutor strongly opposed the petition, arguing that if Darshan is allowed to leave the country, there is a serious risk he may not return, potentially derailing the trial proceedings. Following his release on bail, Darshan resumed filming for his upcoming movie 'Devil'. Although his movements were initially restricted to Bengaluru, he previously obtained court permission to travel within India. This latest plea sought an extension of those permissions to include international travel and the court allowed it on Friday. Darshan, Pavithra, and others were arrested on June 11, 2024, for allegedly kidnapping and murdering Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old Darshan fan from Chitradurga. The Karnataka police have challenged the bail granted to Darshan and others in the Supreme Court. On January 24, 2025, the apex court issued notices to the actor, Pavithra, and five other co-accused, following a state government appeal. As per the bail conditions, Darshan is required to appear before the court every month. Controversy continues to swirl around the actor, who previously skipped court proceedings citing severe back pain but was later spotted attending a movie premiere alongside actor Chikkanna, a key witness in the case. On April 8, a Bengaluru court criticised Darshan for his absence, warning that no future excuses would be entertained. On May 21, the Karnataka police submitted an additional charge sheet against the actor and other accused, further deepening the legal battle.
News18
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Darshan Seeks Court Nod For Foreign Travel Amid Fan Murder Case
Last Updated: Darshan, his partner Pavithra, and 15 others were arrested on June 11, 2024, on charges of kidnapping and brutally murdering Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor from Chitradurga. Kannada superstar Darshan filed a petition before the trial court in Bengaluru on Wednesday seeking the court's nod for foreign travel. Darshan is out on conditional bail in connection with the murder of his fan, allegedly by the actor, his partner, and associates. The petition has been submitted before the City Civil and Sessions court under Section 439 (1) (b) of the CrPC. Darshan has sought to permission to travel to Dubai and Europe from June 1 to June 25. The Special Public Prosecutor has objected to the petition and submitted to the court that if Darshan goes out of the country, it is doubtful whether he will return. The court is expected to give its ruling over the petition by the end of the day. Sources stated that Darshan, after obtaining bail, is busy with the shooting of his upcoming film 'Devil'. The court had earlier restricted his movements outside Bengaluru. Darshan had earlier taken consent from the court to move out of Bengaluru and now he is preparing to visit foreign locations. Darshan, his partner Pavithra, and 15 others were arrested on June 11, 2024, on charges of kidnapping and brutally murdering Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor from Chitradurga. Renukaswamy had allegedly sent derogatory and obscene messages to Pavithra, angry over Darshan's continued relationship with her despite being married. Sources close to Darshan revealed that Pavithra competed with Darshan's wife, Vijayalakshmi, over jewellery and luxury cars. She allegedly pressured Darshan to make public appearances with her after he had been seen with his wife. Pavithra and Vijayalakshmi also had public spats through social media, leading Darshan's fan base to split into factions. Renukaswamy, who supported Vijayalakshmi, had criticised Pavithra — a move that ultimately led to his brutal murder, according to police findings. The Karnataka Police have challenged the bail granted to Darshan and others in the Supreme Court. On January 24, the apex court issued notices to Darshan, Pavithra, and five others in connection with the appeal filed by the state government. While granting bail, the court directed Darshan and the other accused to appear before it every month. Darshan, the second accused in the fan murder case, had earlier landed in fresh controversy after attending a movie premiere while remaining absent from court proceedings, citing health reasons. Adding to the controversy, Darshan was also seen watching the movie alongside actor Chikkanna, who is a witness in the case — a violation of legal provisions. As per the law, accused persons, who are out on bail, are not allowed to meet witnesses involved in the case. On April 8, a Bengaluru court hearing the sensational fan murder case took serious objection to Darshan's absence from the proceedings, citing severe back pain. The Civil and Sessions Judge stated that Darshan must appear before the court in all future hearings and that no excuses for his absence would be entertained. Karnataka Police have further submitted an additional charge sheet against Darshan and other accused in connection with the sensational fan murder case on May 21. First Published:
NDTV
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Accused In Fan Murder Case, Actor Darshan Seeks Court Permission For Foreign Trip
Bengaluru: Kannada superstar Darshan filed a petition before the trial court in Bengaluru on Wednesday seeking the court's nod for foreign travel. Darshan is out on conditional bail in connection with the murder of his fan allegedly by the actor, his partner, and associates. The petition has been submitted before the City Civil and Sessions court under Section 439 (1) (b) of the CrPC. Darshan has sought to permission to travel to Dubai and Europe from June 1 to June 25. The Special Public Prosecutor has objected to the petition and submitted to the court that if Darshan goes out of the country, it is doubtful whether he will return. The court is expected to give its ruling over the petition by the end of the day. Sources stated that Darshan after obtaining bail is busy with the shooting of his upcoming film 'Devil'. The court had earlier restricted his movements outside Bengaluru. Darshan had earlier taken consent from the court to move out of Bengaluru and now he is preparing to visit foreign locations. Darshan, his partner Pavithra, and 15 others were arrested on June 11, 2024, on charges of kidnapping and brutally murdering Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor from Chitradurga. Renukaswamy had allegedly sent derogatory and obscene messages to Pavithra, angry over Darshan's continued relationship with her despite being married. Sources close to Darshan revealed that Pavithra competed with Darshan's wife, Vijayalakshmi, over jewellery and luxury cars. She allegedly pressured Darshan to make public appearances with her after he had been seen with his wife. Pavithra and Vijayalakshmi also had public spats through social media, leading Darshan's fan base to split into factions. Renukaswamy, who supported Vijayalakshmi, had criticised Pavithra -- a move that ultimately led to his brutal murder, according to police findings. The Karnataka Police have challenged the bail granted to Darshan and others in the Supreme Court. On January 24, the supreme court issued notices to Darshan, Pavithra, and five others in connection with the appeal filed by the state government. While granting bail, the court directed Darshan and the other accused to appear before it every month. Darshan, the second accused in the fan murder case, had earlier landed in fresh controversy after attending a movie premiere while remaining absent from court proceedings, citing health reasons. Adding to the controversy, Darshan was also seen watching the movie alongside actor Chikkanna, who is a witness in the case -- a violation of legal provisions. As per the law, accused persons, who are out on bail, are not allowed to meet witnesses involved in the case. On April 8, a Bengaluru court hearing the sensational fan murder case took serious objection to Darshan's absence from the proceedings, citing severe back pain. The Civil and Sessions Judge stated that Darshan must appear before the court in all future hearings and that no excuses for his absence would be entertained. Karnataka Police have further submitted an additional charge sheet against Darshan and other accused in connection with the sensational fan murder case on May 21.
