BJP leaders on Tuesday visited the house of senior BJP worker Bhimesh Hallikeri at Alawandi village in Koppal taluk, Karnataka, and extended support to him after he allegedly received threats for exposing illegal murram extraction. The leaders demanded a thorough investigation into the threats and called for action against those responsible for the illegal mining activities.
Background of the Incident
Bhimesh Hallikeri, a whistleblower, had reportedly uncovered illegal murram mining operations in the region and brought them to the attention of authorities. Following his exposure, he claimed to have received threats from unknown individuals, prompting the BJP to intervene and seek a probe.
The visit by BJP leaders is seen as a show of solidarity with Hallikeri, who has been vocal about the illegal activities. Party officials stated that such threats against whistleblowers are unacceptable and that the government must ensure their safety.
Demand for Investigation
The BJP has formally requested a detailed investigation into the threats and the illegal mining operations. They have urged the state government to take swift action to protect whistleblowers and curb illegal mining, which has been a contentious issue in the region.
In addition to the murram mining row, other news from Hubballi includes Kannada activists being detained during a BCC picketing bid, two women mistaken as snatchers and assaulted by a mob in Raibag, and a land row turning violent with a youth shot as guards opened fire. The police have also arrested two interstate thieves for laptop and phone thefts in Hubballi, while Ballari police have tightened social media watch with 83 complaints since 2023.
Other developments include the SDPI protesting moves to drop cases against BJP and Sangh Parivar functionaries, and Karnataka rolling out GPS-based digital attendance for teachers from May 29. A tragic road mishap in Karnataka resulted in three family members, including an infant, dead and one injured after a motorcycle and mini goods rickshaw head-on collision.
More trending stories from the city include the Mogra pumping station project moving ahead 21 years after the 26/7 Mumbai floods, the EC clearing the state's proposal for a farm loan waiver, and the high court reserving a verdict on bail for Athar Khan in the Delhi riots case. The pre-university education department has warned students against getting admitted to unauthorised colleges in Karnataka, while Maharashtra coaching institutes seek balanced regulations. CBSE students in Bengaluru struggle with missing and delayed answer script photocopies, and the Karnataka high court has stated no bail on technical grounds in major drug cases. Travelling cool, suburban AC buses have drawn 1.5 lakh passengers and earned Rs 1.3 crore in Bengaluru, and an apartment community came together to bring a BMTC bus to its doorstep. In a race against time, a flyer rushing from T1 to T2 of Mumbai airport was duped of Rs 2,000 by a private car driver.
