Alleging that the elected representatives of Shivamogga district have failed to fight for the interests of Malnad farmers, Ti.Na. Srinivasa, convener of the Malnad Raitha Horata Samiti, has demanded that all MLAs and MP of Shivamogga resign.

Addressing a press conference in Shivamogga on Tuesday (September 1), Mr. Srinivasa said the MLAs and the MP had not raised issues concerning farmers of the region in the legislature and were largely unaware of their plight. He said they had failed to address the issues of those who had lost their lands to dam projects, and that farmers who had been granted land in compensation were unable to enjoy ownership of it, as their land was being declared as “forest”. The elected representatives, he alleged, had remained silent on these issues.

On the draft notification proposing to declare the Western Ghats an Ecologically Sensitive Area, Mr. Srinivasa alleged that the elected representatives had failed to grasp the gravity of the issue. “A few are favouring a survey on the lines of the Kerala model, which will not help the State. Besides, the elected representatives are busy blaming each other over the K. Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats,” he said.

He further said the Kasturirangan report, prepared on the basis of satellite images, deserved to be thrown into the dustbin, as the expert committee had not consulted the gram panchayats while preparing it. “The elected representatives have not been able to raise the issue effectively, neither in Parliament nor in the State Assembly. They should resign immediately,” he demanded.

Two houses at Agrahara in Sakaleshpur here were damaged after a retaining wall under construction at a private layout collapsed on them during rain on Saturday (July 4) night.

The houses, belonging to Madhu Kumar and Munaf, were damaged in the incident. Fortunately, nobody was injured.

Cement Manju, Sakaleshpur MLA, and taluk officials visited the spot on Sunday (July 5). Mr. Manju said the retaining wall, being constructed by a private builder, had collapsed onto the houses.

“Family members, including children, were inside. Fortunately, they escaped unhurt as they ran out of their houses. The damage could be because the necessary pillars were not built for the retaining wall,” the MLA said.

He said the private layout’s builder would be consulted to ensure the loss was compensated.

A case of alleged fraud involving a ritual and gold jewellery has been registered at Arasikere Rural Police Station.

Kanthubai, a resident of Halekallanayakanahalli in Arasikere taluk, on Wednesday, filed a complaint with the police alleging that she was defrauded by persons from Harnahalli and Kodimatha villages.

The accused allegedly visited her home on July 15 last year and performed a puja, assuring her that the ritual would relieve her husband of the health issues that he was facing. As part of the ritual, the accused asked her to place various items, including a gold chain weighing 27.2 grams, in a steel box. The accused allegedly instructed her not to open the box for 45 days.

After 45 days, the woman contacted the accused to ask if she could open the box, but she was advised against doing so that day.

Suspecting foul play, she opened the box on March 22 and found the gold chain missing. On contacting the accused, the woman was informed that the gold chain would be returned. Later, the accused claimed that the chain had been pledged at a finance company.

The woman subsequently filed a complaint, alleging that she had been cheated in the name of god. An investigation is under way.