Farmers withdraw stir
Mysore, DHNS: Farmers withdrew their protest against the ICICI Bank following an agreement between the the two groups. The bank will resume transaction from Saturday. The members of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene were staging a protest seeking compensation to the family of H M Manjunath, a resident of Hosapura village, Nanjangud taluk, who committed suicide after the bank officials seized his tractor reportedly due to his failure to pay the loan installment.

It was decided at a meeting held by Deputy Commissioner N S Channappagowda the bank would deposit Rs 10 lakh to the joint account of the Deputy Commissioner and Maramma, the mother of the deceased. They also agreed to waive the loan.

Taxmen in Lokayukta net
Bangalore, DHNS: The Lokayukta police arrested Commercial Tax Officer A P Venkatesh and Commercial Tax Inspector M M Ganeshappa while accepting bribe from Lokesh of Rangaswamy Fabricators, Rajajinagar. Lokesh filed a complaint with Lokayukta police stating the accused had demanded bribe of Rs 30,000 from him for releasing his tempo, which was seized by them while transporting fabricated iron material to ECCI Company. The accused later agreed to take Rs 8,000. Lokesh filed a complaint with the Lokayukta police, who caught them red handed accepting bribe.

Kids’ issues ‘neglected’
Bangalore, DHNS:  A bittersweet news for children. First the sweet: Legislators have demonstrated their concern towards child issues. Bitter: Their concern lack focus, according to Child Rights Trust 2007 annual report titled “Are there Children in Vidhana Soudha” released  on Friday.

Of the 4,107 questions asked by MLAs in the Legislative Assembly in 2007, 501 were children-related. Where as it was just 252 out of total 1,672 questions asked in 2006. However, the response to the questions was not qualitative.