KP Appanna debuts for Royal Challengers Bangalore

Cricketer KP Apppanna (C) of Royal Challengers Bangalore celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of South African cricketer AB DeVilliers (R) of Delhi Daredevils during the IPL Twenty20 match at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth on April 26, 2009. (Photo source: AFP)

Where politicians are strangers...

The heat and dust of an election are missing here. No convoys, no loudspeakers, and — even — no candidates. The deafening silence is only broken by the occasional trumpeting of a wild tusker, the bark of a chital or the roar of a tiger.

The 640-sq km are of Nagarhole National Park, which falls under the Mysore parliamentary constituency, is home to about 6,000 adivasis. Their numbers are too small and the terrain too difficult for candidates to bother to visit. However, canvassing agents and local leaders do the rounds of tribal haadis or hamlets at least once during election time. Of the 1,200 tribal families, the majority are Jenu Kurubas.

The tribals are not even aware of the contestants. The names of H. Vishwanath of the Congress or C.H. Vijayashankar of the BJP, or even Manmohan Singh and L.K. Advani do not ring a bell with a majority of the tribal people. “We only deal with forest guards and department officers,” say the tribals. However, the Jenu Kurubas are aware of the three major political parties. Says Manju, an SSLC dropout from the Nagapura settlement: “We have preferred the Congress and not many have voted for the BJP or the ‘Dala party’ (colloquially, the Janata Dal-S). (more)

Mandepanda Cup begins

AMMATHI: The 13th edition of the Kodava hockey festival — Mandepanda Cup-2009 began here on Monday. Only members of Kodava families take part in the festival that heralds the annual season of sports festivals in Kodagu district.

The festival flag was unfurled by the president of the Mandepanda family, M.B. Appaiah and M.C. Nanaiah, MLC, in the presence of Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, K.G. Bopaiah, Madikeri MLA, Mandepanda P. Appachu Ranjan, and several guests.

Hockey national players from the Mandepanda family, Monnappa (Monni) and Prakash, and national basketball player, Pushpa Kuttanna, brought the ‘festival flame’, resembling the Olympic flame, into the grounds much to the cheer of the guests and spectators. Mr. Prakash lit the flame.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Mr. Bopaiah said Kodava hockey festivals were in continuation of the sports tradition of the district. Hockey festivals had helped identify and nurture rural talent in Kodagu since its inception.

For the first time, the State Government had chipped in with its contribution for encouraging the Kodava hockey festivals, he added.

Mr. Nanaiah called upon the Kodava Hockey Academy president, Kuttani, to identify three venues in each of the taluks in the district for organising Kodava family hockey festivals in the district in future.

Mr. Kuttani said the Kodava hockey festival was already in the Limca Book of Records for its sheer magnitude, and efforts were on to make an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records, for it was reputed to be the largest hockey event in the world.

The festival had helped over 1,000 players from the Kodava families secure employment in the country. The events had brought together Kodava families and fostered matrimonial alliances among Kodava clans.

He later inaugurated an exhibition match between Coorg XI and the Sports Authority of India, Bangalore.

The president of the Mandepanda family, M.B. Appaiah, called upon the players to show exemplary discipline and respect the decisions of the umpires.

Mr. Appachu Ranjan thanked the main sponsors, Café Coffee Day, who had provided Rs. 10 lakh, the State Government and other donors.

He sought the cooperation of the Kodava families to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival.

The bagpiper band from the MEG put on a good show, apart from Kodava volaga. Kodava cultural dances were displayed later.

(Photos: Daijiworld.com)

‘Mandepanda Cup’ from today

MADIKERI: The “Mandepanda Kodava Hockey Festival-2009” will begin at Ammathi in Virajpet taluk on Monday. Amway India will sponsor the Best Goalkeeper award, Man of the Series award and Man of the Match award for all the matches from the quarter-finals to the finals. In addition Amway will also provide 100 T-shirts and caps to the umpires and organisers of the festival, according to a press release from the company.

For match results, visit their website: http://mandepandacup.com/index.html

King Cobra caught near Madikeri

MADIKERI: A nearly 13-ft male King Cobra that was captured near Kootuhole in Galibeedu, near here, on April 17 was released into the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary near Srimangala in Virajpet taluk by ‘Snake’ Satish, who captured it, according to information gathered here on Sunday. Mr. Satish told The Hindu that in addition 14 cobras and seven Russell Vipers that were captured in different parts of the district in the last one week were also released into the forests. (Pic: Shakthi)

WTF news of the day

The Congress is the only political party that is capable of solving the problems of Kodagu district, party leaders from the district said here on Saturday. (more)

Nice joke, no?

Kodagu’s Sunil does his father and India proud

NEW DELHI: When India forward S.V Sunil was informed of his father’s death during the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament at Ipoh, his teammates wanted him to return home. But, like the true soldier that he is, he decided to stay back and do his national duty. It was a tough call and the young man from Coorg district of Karnataka, went on to inspire his team to win the cup for the fourth time.

“It was one of the toughest decisions of my life,” Sunil told IANS from Ipoh. His father S.M. Vittalacharya was bed-ridden with lung problem and passed away three days after Sunil left for Malaysia.

“It was disturbing. I was caught in two minds. I wanted to go back home and at the same time play for my country. The teammates and the coaching staff were very supportive. They told me to fly back and attend the last rites of my father. My father wanted me to play for the country and I wanted to fulfil his wish. I gathered all my courage and decided to remain with the team,” says Sunil. (more)

Retired ASP KS Thammaiah murdered in Bangalore

MYSORE: Retired Additional Superintendent of Police and KPTCL Chief Vigilance Officer K.S. Thammaiah (60), who was a nightmare for rowdies during his days in Mysore, was brutally murdered by miscreants near Anantapura Gate, Yelahanka New Town in Bangalore last night. Thammaiah's car driver Manju has sustained grievous injuries in the attack.

The miscreants hacked Thammaiah to death when he was travelling in his car to his brother Kaverappa's farm house near Kenchanahalli at 8 pm.

A gang of four persons, who were standing on the roadside chatting among themselves, pelted stones on his car.

As the driver stopped the car, the miscreants dragged Thammaiah out of the vehicle and brutally assaulted him with lethal weapons.

Thammaiah, who was lying in a pool of blood, was shifted to M.S. Ramaiah Hospital by the Police on receiving information from the passersby. He breathed his last at 12.50 am, according to Police.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Basavaraj Malagatti suspected that old enmity could be the reason as it was not a murder for gain.

Thammaiah, who hailed from Kodagu, joined the Police Department as a Sub-Inspector and ear-ned a reputation for his efficiency and honesty.

The then Police Commissioner Kasturirangan had handpicked Inspector Thammaiah to lead the Anti-Rowdy Squad with Puttaswamygowda and Dharmesh as his companions.

During his regime as Police Commissioner, Kempaiah too continued the same team and gave a free hand to them to deal with the rowdy elements.

The rowdies used to shiver at the very mention of Thamm-aiah's name and the Squad.

After serving for several years in Mysore, he was transferred to Nanjangud on promotion as Dy. SP and later served as Additional SP at Hassan.

After his retirement, the then H.D. Kumaraswamy-led Government, considering his honesty and efficiency, appointed him as KPTCL's Chief Vigilance Officer in Bangalore, where he unearthed several cases of large-scale power thefts.

Thammaiah leaves behind his wife and a daughter.

Power theft mafia’s role suspected

BANGALORE: The Police, who have launched investigation into the murder of K.S. Thammaiah, suspect the hand of power theft mafia behind the crime.

The Bangalore Police have formed four teams to continue the investigation under the supervision of Dy. Commissioners of Police Ma-lagathi and Syed Ulfat Hussein.

The clues available in the mobile phone left behind by the ass-ailants have hinted at the role of the people involved in power theft.

Thammaiah, after assuming charge as Vigilance Officer of Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (KPTCL), had waged a virtual war against those involved in power theft in the State.

He unearthed several major power theft cases and plugged pilferage of power inviting the wrath of influential persons allegedly involved in the scam.

It may be mentioned here that Energy Minister K.S. Eshwa-rappa had lauded the efficiency of Thammaiah saying that the officer had saved power and recovered large sums by way of fines from those involved in power thefts.

(Text and pix: Star of Mysore)

Quiet flows the Cauvery

“Isn’t the time past 10.30?” the elderly priest asked me as I lingered on for a while where he sat on a low wall that led to the Triveni Sangama a few metres down the paved path.

In a small shop behind him pooja offerings in plastic bags placed on a makeshift wooden plank were on sale to devotees visiting the Bhagandeshwara temple across the road from the confluence of three rivers, more commonly known as sangama in Sanskrit, and kudala in Kannada. Bhagamandala draws its name from Bhagandeshwara, and it was our first stop on our way to Talacauvery in the Brahmagiri hills.

The priest had wrapped a shawl around his head and upper body, keeping him warm in the sharp breeze that blew in that early December morning from across the road passing Bhagamandala on its way to Talacauvery in the hills of the Western Ghats mountain ranges. (more)

HIV cases on a rise in Kodagu

MADIKERI: The ICTC centre here has revealed that the increasing number of HIV cases in Kodagu, amounting to more than 1000, have pushed it towards the Red Line in estimations.

According to ICTC Officer Sunitha various factors like influx of estate labourers from outside and increasing number of tourists were some of the resons for the increase in HIV cases. Along with Kodagu, Chikmagalore, Chamrajnagar and Chitradurga had also reached the Red Line.

According to findings, prostitution rate was also increasing alarmingly in Kodagu. Many cases were found in Kushalnagar, Gonicoppa and Virajpet. Kodagu has more than one thousand cases of HIV.

Moral policing in Madikeri?

MADIKERI: Madikeri town police have registered a case over assault on the couple who were staying at a lodge in Madikeri on Tuesday night.

As the boy had assured the police that he will identify the attackers if shown, police have registered cases under IPC section 323, 324 and 506. Members of some organisation had attacked the couple thinking that they belong to different communities and are involved in illegal activities.

In the meantime, Bajrang Dal and VHP district units have clarified that they are not involved in the incident. The release said “the allegation that Bajrang Dal and VHP activists attacked couple is far from truth. After holding Hindu Samajotsava peacefully in Madikeri, an attempt is made to malign district administration and Hindu organisations.”

Now a Guns ‘n Kodavas PIL

BANGALORE: Kodagu District Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha President S.P. Mahadevappa and others have filed a Public Interest Litigation in Karnataka High Court challenging the order of the State Government asking all citizens in the district except Kodavas to surrender their weapons to the local Police Station in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha election.

The Government's order, issued by the Dy. Commissioner on Mar. 11, exempts Kodavas from surrendering their weapons as they symbolically use them during many occasions including birth and death.

"If anybody other than Kodavas fail to surrender their weapons, legal action will be taken against them," the directive warned. Challenging this directive, the members of Mahasabha have argued that since they also live in Kodagu there should be no discrimination between them.

Following this, a Division Bench of High Court with Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran and Judge V.G. Sabhahita has issued notices to the State Government, Kodagu DC and other respondents.

(Link sent by: Anil Appanna)