Labourer buried alive as soil caves in

It took more than four hours to retrieve the body

Suresh(32), a resident of Bogadi village is the victim. The incident happened at Railway layout being developed on Bogadi - Kergalli road around 11.30 am. The victim was digging the ground to about 15 ft deep for construction of a UGD line when a portion of the soil caved in. Though, the co- workers ran to his rescue, they were helpless as the ground was dug narrow to about 2 ft diameter and was completely covered when the ground collapsed.

Though, the fire tenders led by Regional Fire Officer Gurulingaiah rushed to the spot, the man had breathed his last till the rescue team reached him. It took about four hours for the team to retrieve the body of victim from the buried soil. Assistant Commissioner of Police Vishnuvardhana also visited the spot. Suresh is survived by wife Mani and two daughters - Divya and Kavya.

Talking to reporters, land developer Yashaswini Somashekar said the family of the victim would be suitably compensated. “We have spoken to the family and extended our deep regret for the incident. We will suitable compensate the family,” he developer said.

Conversion alleged

Tension prevailed in R S Naidunagar on Monday when Bajrang Dal activists caught hold of two persons, James and Shanthamma, alleging them of distributing religious texts and delivering lectures to promote religious conversions. Angry Bajrang Dal activists bundled the duo in an auto to N R police station.

In their complaint, the Dal members alleged that James and Shanthamma targeted weaker sections of the Hindu society, particularly women and encouraged them for conversion.

Inspector Yashwanth Kumar said the duo were accused of distributing few literatures. They were warned and let off as the act comes under non-cognisable offense, he said.
However, James told reporters that they were not involved in any religious conversion and only gave a message to people that the world will come to an end in few years.

Man found dead

Siddaraju(52), a Group ‘D employee attached to the Department of Social Welfare working in Hunsur and a resident of Ashokapuram in city was found dead in his locality on wee hours of Monday.

Though police conducted a postmortem on the victim following complaint from Siddaraju’s brother that he smelt a rat in the case, they suspect that he died due to overdosage of alcohol. It is said Siddaraju had separated from his wife and children and living alone.

Chain snatching

Two youth waylaid a woman and made away with a gold chain weighing about 30 grams in Vidyaranyapuram on Monday afternoon.  According to a complaint, Jayamma, 55, told the police that she was walking on 17 th cross in Vidyaranyapuram, when a youth snatched her chain. He joined another associate as a pillion on a bike a few metres away and escaped. Vidyaranyapuram police have registered a case.