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Fire in agriculture research centre

HASSAN: The 30-acre forest area cultivated by Agriculture Research Centre, Madenur, caught fire accidentally on Wednesday and scientists and employees managed to put out the fire, according to a release from the centre. Field Officer S.V. Patil in a release here on Thursday said the employees noticed fire around 3 p.m. in near Kanive Aladahalli on Wednesday. Though a fire path had been created, haystack stored on a eucalyptus farm caught fire because of strong winds. But the timely action of the employees and scientists helped in containing the fire. There was no damage to the mango, cashew nut and jackfruit crops being cultivated at the centre, he added. — Staff Correspondent

`Untouchability is the cause for conversion'

Bidar: "Untouchability is the main cause for conversion. Dalits are going out of the fold of Hinduism and are embracing different religions such as Christianity," Sri Siddalinga Mahaswami of Gadag Tondadarya Math said here on Thursday. "We should not be worried if a Hindu wants to become a Christian if he likes that religion. But if a Hindu converts to Christianity or Islam to escape evils such as untouchability or caste-based discrimination, it is definitely a cause for concern for all," the swamiji said. He felt that treating Dalits with respect and love was the only way to end such conversions. He was speaking after releasing the first issue of a Kannada monthly "Vachana Kranti". — Staff Correspondent

Councillor loses membership

BIJAPUR: A member of Muddebihal Municipal Council has lost his membership for not paying civic tax despite several reminders. In an order here on Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mohsin cancelled the membership of Chennappa R. Gonal who owed Rs. 18,550 to the municipality. He failed to pay the sum though he was given many opportunities, the order said. Similar action was contemplated against two other members, A.D. Dhavalagi and Gopi Madivalar, but withdrawn as they agreed to pay the dues, according to a release. — Staff Correspondent

National Science Day in Gulbarga

GULBARGA: The Gulbarga District Science Centre will celebrate the National Science Day on February 28 to commemorate the historic disclosure of "Raman Effect", a research paper on scattering of light in liquid, which won Sir C.V. Raman the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. District Science Officer B.R. Viswanath in a press release here on Thursday said the function will be preceded by a series of competitions, from February 26, for students on different subjects in science. A treasure hunt will also be organised for high school students. A special lecture on "Prof C.V. Raman-a scientist of inspiration" will be held on February 28. — Special Correspondent

Crop catches fire

HASSAN: Sugarcane crop grown in an area of 15 acres in Kyatalapura village of Belur taluk caught fire on Thursday following short circuit of a live wire, which belongs to Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Company, according to a release.

Inquiry sought into question paper leak

BELGAUM: The Junior Doctors' Association, Belgaum, has demanded an inquiry into the alleged leak of the question paper of the medical P.G.E.T.-06 conducted by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) on February 12.

Association members staged a demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here on Thursday and submitted a memorandum to the him demanding that a committee be set up to inquire into the question paper leak. They said a selected group of students have scored more than 90 per cent in the examination. It is not possible to score this much, given the difficult nature of question paper. — Staff Correspondent

Students taken ill

Madikeri: As many as 25 persons, including 21 students from the BCM hostel in Maragodu in Madikeri taluk of Kodagu, were admitted to the District Hospital here on Thursday evening for suspected food poisoning. Those who fell ill include four staff of the hostel, including cooks. This is the second such incident in the hostel in the last three days. A total of 25 girl students were treated for suspected food poisoning on Tuesday, sources said. Zilla panchayat president H.S. Ashok visited the hospital. - Staff Corrrespondent

Case adjourned

CHIKMAGALUR: Mallika, a suspected naxalite, who was arrested by the police in Sringeri on November 17, 2005, was produced before the Principal District and Sessions Judge here on Wednesday. The judge remanded her in a day's police custody and she was produced before the court again on Thursday. The case has been adjourned till March 9. Police have registered cases against her for her alleged involvement in the murder of Seshaiah in July last year, an exchange of fire with the police in Barkana forest and blasting a forest check-post near Nemmar in Sringeri taluk. — Correspondent

Prakash rebukes Kumaraswamy

Belgaum: Former Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash has alleged that Chief Minister H.D. Kumarswamy is "getting closer" to the Bharatiya Janata Party despite his declaration to stand by the secular principles of the Janata Dal (Secular). Addressing presspersons near Bavihal village in Bailhongal taluk, where he inaugurated a festival of plays on Thursday, he expressed doubts over the stability of Janata Dal (S)-BJP Government. He foresaw "radical changes" in the national political scenario soon after elections to Legislative Assemblies in five States. He said he voted in favour of the motion of confidence tabled by Mr. Kumarswamy to save the Janata Dal (S). — Staff Correspondent

Ban orders around Vidhana Soudha

BANGALORE: Bangalore Police Commissioner Ajai Kumar Singh has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure within a radius of 1 km from the Vidhana Soudha between 6 a.m. and noon on Friday in view of the joint session of the legislature. — Staff Reporter

Protest against Bush's visit

BANGALORE: Members of the Karnataka Kouma Souharda Vedike have opposed the visit of U.S. President George W. Bush to India. Vedike's Central Committee President Gowri Lankesh told presspersons on Thursday the organisation will observe an "Oppose America week" from February 26 to March 3, during which vedike members will hold protest demonstrations. They will take out a procession from Mysore Bank Circle to the Town Hall here on March 1. A public meeting will be organised at the Town Hall. Describing the U.S. as a "terrorist state", Ms. Lankesh alleged that it is joining hands with forces that are opposed to the common people. — Staff Reporter

Yediyurappa to visit Bijapur

BIJAPUR: Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa is scheduled to arrive here on Saturday on a two-day programme. He will arrive at 11 a.m. and participate in the "praana pratishthapana" ritual at an 85-ft-high idol of Shiva installed by K.T.Patil Benakatti Charitable Trust at

Rambapur, near here. He will meet public representatives and officials at the office of the Deputy Commissioner on Sunday morning before leaving for Badami, where he is scheduled to participate in the Chalukya Utsav, a release said. — Staff Correspondent

Panchayats to identify beneficiaries

BANGALORE: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj C.M. Udasi has said the powers given to gram panchayats to identify beneficiaries under various schemes will not be withdrawn. Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, he said they will continue to identify beneficiaries under the Ashraya and Ambedkar schemes. The Centre will be requested to provide Rs. 1,000 crores to develop 3,500 km of rural roads during 2006-07. The department will give priority to implementation of drinking water and power supply and improvements to rural roads, he added. — Special Correspondent

Appoint a Muslim as Minister, BJP told

BANGALORE: The Muslim Ulema Council of Karnataka has urged the Bharatiya Janata Party to include a Muslim in the coalition Ministry and provide adequate representation to members of the community in appointments of chairmen of boards and corporations. It has said that the BJP has an opportunity to gain the confidence of Muslims and to change the impression "created by the Congress" that it is against the community. In a press release, the Ulema Council, which held a meeting under the chairmanship of Mir Bahadur Hussain, said Muslims want to support the BJP. — Staff Reporter

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