Karnataka Extends Dasara Holidays for Govt, Aided Schools Till Oct 18 over Socio Educational Survey

Mangaluru, Nov 1: In a decisive move to bring order to the burgeoning fleet of electric auto-rickshaws, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Darshan H V has mandated that all battery-operated autos must secure valid permits to operate within the district.

The order, which took effect today, marks a significant reversal of an earlier directive from July 26, 2024, which had granted free movement to e-autos and vehicles running on methanol and ethanol. The new rule, issued under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, aims to streamline traffic, enhance passenger safety, and ensure fair competition among transport operators.

Mandatory Permits and Zone-Based Operations

The new notification establishes a clear two-zone system for operations:

Zone 1 (Mangaluru City & Ullal): E-autos registered between January 20, 2002, and October 30, 2025, must apply to the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) for a permit.

Identification: These vehicles will be marked with a sky-blue, square-shaped marking and a police-issued identification number.

Operation: They must operate strictly within designated auto stands under Zone 1 limits.

Zone 2 (Rural Areas): All electric autos registered after October 30, 2025, will be considered rural permit holders.

Identification: Zone 2 autos will be distinguished by a circular yellow sticker bearing a police-issued identification number.

Operation: These vehicles are strictly prohibited from entering Zone 1 boundaries and must operate exclusively within rural limits.

Enforcement and Compliance

The DC's directive is unequivocal: "All e-autos operating without valid permits must regularise their status immediately." This push is intended to ensure "road discipline, safety, and fair competition" within the transport sector.

The new system was framed following extensive deliberations at the RTA meeting held on August 18. To ensure strict enforcement, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has been instructed to install necessary signboards, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Traffic Division) and the Senior Regional Transport Officer have been tasked with overseeing the effective implementation of the order across Dakshina Kannada.

Faridabad: A 19-year-old college student in Haryana’s Faridabad died by suicide after being allegedly blackmailed with obscene, AI-generated images and videos of his three sisters, police said on Sunday.

The victim, identified as Rahul Bharti, a second-year student of DAV College, had been visibly distressed for nearly two weeks before his death. His father, Manoj Bharti, said Rahul had withdrawn socially, stopped eating properly, and spent most of his time in his room.

According to the family, unknown persons allegedly hacked Rahul’s phone and used artificial intelligence to create morphed obscene visuals of him and his sisters. The accused, identified as ‘Sahil’ in Rahul’s chat records, demanded ₹20,000 to delete the material and threatened to circulate it online if he did not comply.

In the final chat exchange, ‘Sahil’ allegedly goaded Rahul to end his life, even suggesting ways to do so. Distressed and fearful, Rahul reportedly consumed poison around 7 pm on Saturday. He was rushed to a private hospital, where he died during treatment.

“Someone sent obscene videos and photos of my daughters to Rahul’s phone and threatened to make them viral. My son couldn’t bear the harassment and took his own life,” said his father, breaking down.

The family suspects the involvement of another man, Neeraj Bharti, who had spoken to Rahul just hours before the tragedy. Rahul’s mother, Meena Devi, alleged that Neeraj—her brother-in-law—along with a woman, conspired to torment the family following a domestic dispute six months ago.

Based on the family’s complaint, the police have registered a case against two accused.

“Rahul had consumed poison and died during treatment. A case has been filed on his father’s complaint. The mobile phone is being examined, and further action will be taken based on the investigation,” said Investigating Officer Sunil Kumar.

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has released the official list of recipients for the 2025 Karnataka Rajyotsava Awards, honouring 70 individuals across diverse fields — including actor Prakash Raj — for their outstanding contributions to society.

For the first time, the awards were finalised without an open call for applications. Recipients were chosen on the basis of district representation and social contribution, said Minister Shivraj Tangadagi at a press briefing held at Vidhana Soudha on Thursday.

“The selection was made based on district-wise and social parameters. Most of those recommended by the advisory committee were approved. The committee met four to five times to finalise the deserving candidates,” the minister said.

In a first, two achievers from the Samagara Haralayya community have been recognised this year. Following a prior decision, no organisations were considered for the award in this edition.

A total of 12 women are among this year’s honourees. Minister Tangadagi noted that some had submitted self-nominations, which were accepted as they were found deserving.

Each award carries a 25-gram gold medal and a cash prize of ₹5 lakh. The felicitation ceremony will be held on 1 November at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bengaluru, at 6 pm.

List of Awardees 2025

Literature

•    Prof. Rajendra Chenni – Shivamogga
•    Thumbadi Ramayya – Tumakuru
•    Prof. R. Sunandamma – Chikkaballapur
•    Dr. H. L. Pushpa – Tumakuru
•    Rahamat Tarikere – Chikkamagaluru
•    H. M. Poojar – Vijayapura

Folklore

•    Basappa Bharamappa Choudki – Koppal
•    B. Thakappa Kannur – Shivamogga
•    Sanningappa Satteppa Mushennagol – Belagavi
•    Hanumantappa, Marappa, Chilangi – Chitradurga
•    M. Thopanna – Kolar
•    Somanna Dundappa Dhanagonda – Vijayapura
•    Sindhu Gujaran – Dakshina Kannada
•    L. Mahadevappa Udigal – Mysuru

Music / Dance

•    Devendrakuamr Pattar – Koppal
•    Madivalayya Sali – Bidar
•    Prof. K. Ramamurthy Rao – Mysuru

Cinema / Television

•    Prakash Raj – Dakshina Kannada
•    Vijayalakshmi Singh – Kodagu

Administration / Medical

•    H. Siddayya, IAS (Retd.) – Bengaluru South (Ramanagara)
•    Dr. Aalamma Maranna – Tumakuru
•    Dr. Jayaranganath – Bengaluru Rural

Social Service

•    Sulagitti Eeramma – Vijayanagar
•    Fakkeeri – Bengaluru Rural
•    Corine Antoinette Rasquinha – Dakshina Kannada
•    Dr. N. Sitarama Shetty – Udupi
•    Konandur Lingappa – Shivamogga

Sculpture / Crafts / Visual Art

•    Umesh Pambada – Dakshina Kannada
•    Dr. Ravindra Korishetti – Dharwad
•    K. Dinesh – Bengaluru
•    Shantaraju – Tumakuru
•    Jaffer Mohiyuddin – Raichur
•    Penna Obalappa – Bengaluru Rural
•    Shanti Bai – Ballari
•    Pundalik Shastri (Budabudake) – Belagavi

Kannadigas Abroad / Outside State

•    Zakariya Bajpe (Saudi Arabia)
•    P. V. Shetty (Mumbai)

Environment

•    Ramegowda – Chamarajanagar
•    Mallikarjun Ningappa – Yadgir

Agriculture

•    Dr. S. V. Hittalamani – Haveri
•    M. C. Rangaswamy – Hassan

Media

•    K. Subramanya – Bengaluru
•    Amshi Prasanna Kumar – Mysuru
•    B. M. Haneef – Dakshina Kannada
•    M. Siddharaju – Mandya

Science & Technology

•    Ramayya – Chikkaballapur
•    Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar – Davanagere
•    Dr. R. V. Nadagouda – Gadag

Cooperation

•    Shekharagouda V. Malipatil – Koppal

Yakshagana / Theatre / Performing Arts

•    Kota Suresh Bangera – Udupi
•    Airbail Anand Shetty – Udupi
•    Krishna Parameshwara Hegde (K. P. Hegde) – Uttara Kannada
•    Gunduraj – Hassan
•    H. M. Paramashivayya – Bengaluru South (Ramanagara)
•    L. B. Sheikh (Master) – Vijayapura
•    Bangarappa Khudanpur – Bengaluru
•    Mime Ramesh – Dakshina Kannada
•    D. Ratnamma Desai – Raichur

Education

•    Dr. M. R. Jayaram – Bengaluru
•    Dr. N. S. Ramegowda – Mysuru
•    S. B. Hosamani – Kalaburagi
•    Nagaraju – Belagavi

Sports

•    Ashish Kumar Ballal – Bengaluru
•    M. Yogendra – Mysuru
•    Dr. Babina N. M. (Yoga) – Kodagu

Judiciary

•    Justice P. B. Bhajantri (Pavankumar Bhajantri) – Bagalkote

Sculpture / Painting / Handicraft
•    Basanna Monappa Badiger – Yadgir
•    Nagalingappa G. Gangur – Bagalkote
•    B. Maruti – Vijayanagar
•    L. Hemashekar – Mysuru