Here are the big stories from Karnataka today

1. Claim of residents living for 28 years at now-demolished houses at Kogilu Layout ‘factually incorrect’: State Government tells Karnataka High Court

The State Government on January 7 informed the High Court of Karnataka that it has satellite images to show when each of the houses at the illegally formed Fakir and Wasim colonies were built on government land in Kogilu Layout, in north Bengaluru, while rejecting the claim of some residents that they had been residing in the now-demolished houses from the past 28 years.

Denying the claim of the petitioners that they were evicted without following the due process of law and the guidelines issued by the apex court on eviction, the A-G said that the apex court’s judgment is not applicable to the present case while also pointing out that the land on which the petitioners had built houses was not a slum but initially used for quarrying and later as landfill.

2. Kogilu Layout demolition: FIR against four persons for selling Karnataka government land for unauthorised construction

Fifteen days after the demolition of over 150 houses and sheds deemed illegal in Kogilu Layout, Fakir Colony and Waseem Layout, the Yelahanka police registered an FIR against four persons on January 4 for allegedly selling government land belonging to the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) and allowing unauthorised construction in north Bengaluru.

According to the authorities, the demolition was carried out to recover BSWML land, which was meant for a solid waste processing unit. Based on a complaint filed by Santoshkumar Kaddi, engineer with the BSWML, the police booked Vijay, Waseemullah Baig, Muni Anjinappa and Robin charging them under various sections of Karnataka Land Revenue Act.

3. Ballari range DIG transferred after clash that killed Congress party worker in Karnataka

Close on the heels of the transfer of the Superintendent of Police of Ballari following a clash that claimed the life of a Congress party worker, the Karnataka government transferred the jurisdictional Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police as well. The DIG has been replaced by a senior officer of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) rank.

Amid heightened scrutiny of the handling of the incident, which triggered political outrage and demands for accountability, P.S. Harsha, who was awaiting posting, has been appointed as Inspector General of Police, Ballari range. He replaces Vartika Katiyar, DIG, who has been transferred and posted as DIG, Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement.

Meanwhile, Gangavathi MLA G. Janardhan Reddy demanded the arrest of Ballari MLA Nara Bharath Reddy, claiming that video footage showed a gunman linked to the latter firing at close range and killing Congress activist Rajasekhar during the group clash in Ballari on January 1. Mr. Reddy said the violence was the result of a ‘planned conspiracy’ rather than a spontaneous clash.

4. Police accused of disrobing woman during arrest in Hubballi, action sought after video goes viral

The claim by a woman, reportedly a BJP worker, of being disrobed while being arrested in Hubballi has led to widespread outrage in Karnataka after a video clip went viral. The alleged incident took place when police went to arrest the woman based on complaints of local residents in connection with a clash that reportedly took place during the mapping for SIR on January 1.

On January 7, Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar clarified that the woman constables had not disrobed Sujata, alias Vinayalaxmi Handi, during the arrest. He said the woman had attacked the woman constables and had removed her clothes on her own after getting into the police van. In response, the woman constables, with the help of localites, brought clothes to cover her, he said.