The Weekly Observer Issue 7

The Weekly

Observer Volume 14 | Issue 7

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Flipkart delivery man accused of kidnapping EXCLUSIVE Apoorva Choubey A Flipkart driver allegedly tried to lure a sixyear-old boy into a delivery van outside a city apartment block.

Management at Purva Riviera Apartments put up a notice claiming that Flipkart van driver Mukesh tried to kidnap a boy on July 28.

The notice informs the residents that a case has been filed by the family and warns parents to be aware of any incoming delivery vans.

Mr. Raja, General Manager of Purva Apartments in Marathahalli, said: “Mukesh tried to lure the kid into a Flipkart delivery van. We immediately filed a complaint in the HAL Police Station. Security has been tightened since the incident and we do not let anyone enter without a visitor’s pass.”

He added, “The family

is very disturbed and does not want their identity to be disclosed. But they want Mukesh to be punished at all costs and they have our full support.”

A similar incident happened in Hyderabad last week, where a Flipkart delivery man molested a house maid and was arrested two days later.

Payal Banerjee, Flipkart Public Relations Officer, said: “We had resolved everything with the customer/building and co-operated fully with them in all aspects. The same stands true for the Hyderabad incident and an official response have already been shared externally in this regard yesterday.”

When asked about the actions taken against Mukesh and their policies for background checks on the employees, Flipkart declined to give any details.

station, said: “Mukesh claims that he was only interacting with the kid. We do not have any record of the case filed since the family withdrew the case.

The notice circulated in the apartment block Mr. Guruprasad, SubInspector of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited police

“The Flipkart management has taken care of the whole situation and

Mukesh has been fined for creating nuisance by the Mayo Hall court,” he added.

Manager of the Shree Ram Spurthy Apartments in Whitefield said: “The management of Purva Apartments sent an email to all the apartments in Marathahalli and Whitefield informing about this incident. In order to warn the residents we put up posters in our society too.”

The Flipkart spokesman added: "The safety of our customers is of utmost importance to us; we have a very strong business ethic policy that binds not only our employees but also our business partners. We have zero tolerance for such behaviour and strictest action has been taken for this unfortunate incident.”

Speaking about the Hyderabad incident, she added that the accused had been arrested and that police were now investigating.

No FIR, if you renovate the police station Nikhil M Babu Hebbal police failed to register an FIR on a 1.5 crore fraud case against a builder who had renovated the police station for free.

Mahima World Wide Builders cheated at least 17 people of 1.5 crore by taking money for an apartment, Mahima Nest.

One of the directors, Ashish Das is in jail while the other, Santhosh is absconding..

Subramanian, the land owner, who has entered into a registered joint development agreement is out on bail.

“On June 18, 2014, Anand, the writer of Hebbal Police Station, asked me

Ashish and Santhosh, Directors of Mahima

to make a complaint at 8pm,” said Satheesh. “I wanted to file the complaint of all the 17 together, but the police didn’t allow that,” he added.

Suspicious about the police, Satheesh, with Madhan, who was also cheated, went to Ashish’s office behind the police station and found out that Ashish was

arrested.

“He was kept in custody for about a month. Police only filed FIR for individual case, which has weakened the case. People haven’t got their money back and Subramanian is out on bail,” said Ramanandan, advocate for the group. (contd on pg 4)

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Thursday, September 18, 2014

The Weekly Observer

Public grounds deny permission to transsexuals

Inauguration of the event on Onam Courtesy - USI Punita Maheshwari Transsexuals were denied permission to hold an event at four public grounds in on the basis of gender discrimination.

Unique Solutions Images Media organizers had a tough time finding land to organize an event for the Onam festival on 7th September, 2014 for transsexuals. The event also included soft skill training and cash benefit of Rs. 20,000 for the transsexuals.

The organizers were de-

nied bookings at Vishranthi Nilayam in Shivaji Nagar.

USI MD Sahile Bakkar, said, “It is very demeaning for the third gender to be discriminated on such grounds. We went on looking for grounds all day and at the end of the day got nothing back in our hands.”

On contacting Vishranthi Nilayam, they accepted that the permission was denied but were unwilling to talk about it.

According to Kumara, Civil Rights Lawyer, the discrimination rises due to lack of authority. “There are no

government departments for the transsexual’s protec-­ tion; it is just the NGO’s working for them which usually face financial crunches.”

Mr. Nagaraja, Manager at USI said, “The hall at Shivaji Nagar was booked then they randomly asked about the audience. When they realized that the event was for transsexuals, they straight away cancelled the booking without any justification.”

Finally, after being denied permission from four public ground, Canara Bank Rural Self Employment Training Centre agreed to hold the event.

Mr. Pannapa, director of the training institute, said, “The ground is for public, transgender come under public, thus there is no reason for rejecting the booking. No development plan would work if they are not accepted by the society.”

For the audience, it was a rewarding event. Yana, a

transgender who was a part of the event, said, “Apart from charity, this is the first time in my life I knew what

a celebration looks like.

About the discrimination, only awareness and a strong will can help the situation.”

Transgender body left unclaimed

A transgender’s body was left unclaimed for 18 hours after she died of HIV/AIDS. Shalu, 24, was detected with the HIV virus in 2011. She survived it for three years and died on 15 September, 2014 at 3:30 pm in Accept Care Home.

Shalu migrated from Kerela and was part of the transgender community.

She was accompanied by her partner, Anmua, who did not want to comment of the issue when she died at Accept Care Homes.

The community organization for transsexuals and sex workers, Samara, tried to contact her family in Kerela but they refused to even come.

“We claimed the body after trying to convince the family for almost a day,” Veena, Samara board member said.

The organization took initiative and performed rituals to bury the body at a graveyard in Mysore Road after it was released from Accept Care Center on Monday.

No libraries for government school kids Divya Kishore Only five per cent of schools in Bangalore have libraries.

Sujatha, a teacher at Government Higher Primary School, Sunkenahalli, Hanumanthnagar said: “Books and book-shelves are provided by donors but the government has not provided any space for library. So piles of books are left with dust on them.”

“Also there is no provision for the students to take the books home,” she added.

Out of 49,637 schools in Bangalore that come under the Karnataka State Education Dept report of 2013/14, only 2,525 have libraries. Also schools are given Rs 22,500 per year for maintenance which is claimed as meager and irregular amount by school official.

Rithvick, a seventh grade student, said, “We want to read more books but because of non-availability of library we are unable to do that.”

“I have my board exams

GHP School, Sukenahalli, Hanumanth Nagara in coming March and I need to refer some other books to have better preparation. But, because of non-availability of library in school, I’m unable to do

that,” said Parvathi, a 10th grade student at Jayanagar Secondary School..

My younger brother has access to enjoy different types of books at his pri-

vate school library. He often brings books for me from his school,” she added.

Surya Prakash, Education Governance Coordinator, said, “We have to build libraries in schools which are 60-70 years old which is not possible as the buildings are too old. There are newly made schools that have libraries. And we are in process of providing libraries to schools as much as possible,” said Puroshottam Kumar, Program Officer, Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

The Weekly Observer

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Doctors reject HC order to ban strikes Kimaya Varude Government doctors in the city say they will not adhere to a High Court order banning them from going on strike.

On September 5, the Karnataka High Court bench, headed by Justice D H Waghela, adjourned a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation about a strike conducted by doctors in 2013.

Before adjourning the hearing, the court observed that medical services are essential and both criminal and disciplinary actions can be taken against doctors and nurses who go on strike.

Dr. C.N. Reddy, a pediatrician and assistant profes-

sor at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, thinks that the circumstances force doctors and nurses to go on strikes.

He said, “A doctor requires a proper place to practise and salaries at least equivalent to doctors from private hospitals. These are our basic demands.”

Dr. Mududur Ajaykumar, Professor of Community Medicine, from Gulbarga, added: “Patients’ relatives fail to understand the seriousness of the disease and expect us to save the patient. When we fail to do so, we are man-handled.

Doctors require protection from the general public in their place of duty.”

Dr. Siddharth, a junior

Dr. Y.C Yogananda Reddy, President of IMA

doctor at K.C. General Hospital, said: “If the management refuses to pay heed to our demands then we go on strike. Such orders by the High Court tend to curb our freedom of expression.”

According to Dr. M.V. Prasanna Kumar, Resident Medical Officer at Lady

Curzon and Bowring Hospital, doctors avoided strikes for the past three years due to amendments to the Essential Services Maintenance Act. He said, “We work 24/7.

We are also human beings.”

Some government doctors believe that strikes are a way of expressing their concern, the hospital administration does not support them. “Doctors are answerable to the government and patients. We are not responsible for anything,” said Dr. Geetha, Assistant Administrative Officer at Jayanagar General Hospital.

Dr. S Pushparaj, Medical Superintendent at Jayanagar General Hospital supports

the High Court Order. He said: “If doctors go on strike, patients suffer the most. It is important to make laws that stop them from avoiding their daily services.”

President of Indian Medical Association of Karnataka, Dr. Y. C. Yogananda Reddy agrees that there is a legal ruling that bans doctors from striking work and said, “No law can stop doctors from going on strike and we support them.”

He further added, “Though strikes are the best way to pull government to listen to us, doctors can also choose alternatives like dharnas at their workplace.”

File RTI and be prepared to get booked Pulaha Roy An RTI activist has been fighting to clear his name for the past three years.

On September 22, 2010, Mr Rakesh Prasanna, an RTI activist was slapped with wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation and intentional insult. Mr. Prasanna was cleared of all the charges by the High Court of Karnataka.

Mr. Prasanna said: “The problem started as a result of my objection to the illegal commercial construction in the vicinity of my house. I had filed an RTI asking the authorities about the circumstances under which the approval was given.

“The proprietors of the illegal construction, Mr. Mukesh Prem Chand and

Rakesh Prasanna, activist Vivek Prem Chand, approached my family and tried to persuade us to sell our property. Our rejection to Chand brothers’ proposal led Mr. Suresh Kumar, an ex-law minister of the state, to intervene into the matter. But I persisted on the stoppage of the illegal construction activity,” Prasanna added.

Following the ex-law minister’s intervention Mr.

Prasanna was picked up from his residence and was interrogated at the Rajajinagar police station.

I was shocked when Inspector A.G Carriappa and Sub-Inspector C.V Deepak framed charges against me.

Later I found out that the orders were directed from the Assistant Revenue Officer, Mrs. Lakshamma.”

“By the end of this month the health department will be raiding the commercial complex and shall be sealing it. But the date remains tentative” he added.

After being cleared of the first set of allegations on 23rd September 2011, Mr. Prasanna was again implicated with trying to deter public servant from carrying out his duty and trying to assault a woman with in-

tent to outrage her modesty on September 29, 2011 for which he has been given an anticipatory bail.

Mr. Ravindranath Guru another RTI activist faced

Broken window pane at Rakesh’s house similar harassment by the ‘protectors’ of law. He was harassed the local councilor and the MLA. “In the middle of the night some goons attacked my house. They broke the

window pane and tried all sorts of intimidation possible. But later they realized I am hard nut to crack.” he said The incident took place in 2006; a year after RTI came into practice. Mr. Guru was using the RTI tool to peek into the violations in construction practice.

According to Mr. Vincent-An RTI activist, the activists who are witchhunted are those who aren’t part of any ‘umbrellagroup’.

They are targeted because they do not have the necessary backing” The ‘Weekly Observer’ tried to get in touch with the officials in Rajajinagar police station but they refused to comment.

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Thursday, September 18, 2014

The Weekly Observer

Rehab delays leave families stranded Elizabeth Mani Darshan Rane Two government land clearances left seven people dead on the streets, according to those affected.

People died of sanitation problems following evacuation of EWS slum.

Five people including a baby died due to sanitation

ilies soon returned to the street as they couldn’t afford the rent of Rs 1500.

Ammu, sister of Ramesh, who died last week, said, “My brother had fever and cold for a week, as we didn’t have proper shelter and sanitation we couldn’t save him.”

“My mother, Neelamma also died due to cold and

Resident of EWS living on the street problems as residents of EWS slum, Ejipura have been living on the street for the past 21 months.

Shatha Mary, the mother of a one-year old girl Andrea who died, said, “My baby died of water infection. We did not have any proper sanitation and water facilities due to which I lost my child.”

Residents of the Economically Weaker Section slum, Ejipura said that when they refused to vacate their houses on Jan 20, 2013, MLA Harish promised on the Quran that each family would get a permanent house within eight months. He also gave Rs 10,000 for each family to have temporary shelter.

Everyone shifted to Sarjapur slum however 70 fam-

fever last year,” she added Jyothi, a 20-year-old who delivered a baby girl on the street said, “When they demolished our houses I shifted to Sarjapura. I came back to the street in two months as I couldn’t afford to pay the rent.

“I was born in this place and I don’t want to go anywhere else,” she added.

N.A Harish, MLA of Shanthinagar constituency said, “There is no-one who is homeless here, people who are living on the streets are creating unnecessary problems.”

“Before the demolition the EWS slum was in a very bad condition, women were raped and there were lot of illegal activities. Being the MLA of the area it is my responsibility to look after the

people and I have already built 2400 houses for them.” he added.

Kannamma, a resident of EWS slum Ejipura said, “In the beginning, NGO’s gave us food but now nobody comes forward to help us.”

“We don’t have proper sanitation and drinking water facilities. My grandson Arjun got pelvic inflammatory disease (PIDS), since we shifted to the street,” said Mary Fathima.

Evicted families await rehab package, authorities clueless Nine years after government ordered the demolition of houses in a rural Bangalore village, the families are still awaiting promised rehabilitation packages.

“Two people died and three others were injured in the aftermath of demoli-

other sites around Bangalore while 20 families continue to stay in the area adjacent to the demolished site.

The victims are daily wage laborers who earn Rs.100-150 per day.The families live in makeshift houses in cramped conditions.

“We were promised housing by our MLA, Mr. S.T Somshekhar when he recently visited us during his election campaign for votes” She added.

Mr. S.T Somshekhar, the current MLA, said that he doesn’t know about the demolition and denied making any such promises.

Ms Gangambika, Panchayat Development Officer for Thagacheguppe area replied:” I have been here for three months and do not know of any such demolition incident that hap-

Makeshift houses of the evicted families tion. The government demolished 185 homes. They promised us new houses but never got back to us.” said Mumtaz, an evicted victim.

After the demolition, many evicted families were forced to take shelter at their relatives and friends homes. Some moved to

pened nine years back. I do not know of any such rehabilitation package or the people that were evicted.”

An engineering college hostel is presently under construction at the demolished site. Another part of the demolished site is being developed for a private residential housing project.

Continued from Page 1 The police also held a meeting with the land owner and the people who got cheated for settling the issue.

“Ashish had renovated the Hebbal police station for free,” said Subramanian, the land owner.

Ravi, officer of Establishment Section in Commissioner Office Bangalore, confirmed that no funds were allowed to Hebbal police station for the past three years.

Also, Karnataka government in 2010 has passed a circular that police stations cannot take money from sponsors.

The Supreme Court has ordered that FIR is mandatory in cognizable offences and action will be taken against the police officer if he fails to register FIR. “My brother is ill and I don’t have any money to treat him as I have spent 10 lakhs for the flat,” said Vikranth who got cheated.

“I met Ashish while he was constructing the first floor of the Police Station.

He also renovated the Inspector’s room,” said Robert Louis who lives next to Hebbal Police Station.

Nagesh Haslar, Inspector of Hebbal Police Station said, “Two-three years back there was some renovation work in the building and the department did it.”

But he refrained from further comments when asked about the Mahima Builders case.

OBSERVER Team: Editor - Agnivesh Harshan, Chief Sub-Editor - Devdatta Sukhdev, News Editor - Divya Kishore, News Desk - Aparna Singh, Sub Editors - Nikunj Ohri, Darshan Rane, Nikhil M Babu, Design Head - Asmita Kundu, Layout Desk - Apoorva Choubey, Punita Maheshwari, Natasha Singh, Proof Reader - Kimaya Varude, Pulaha Roy Photo Editor - Aadhira Anandh, Reporter - Elizabeth Mani.