EIGHT MORE GET LIFE SENTENCE;

MADIKERI February 2, 2006

Close on the heel of murder accused being given life sentence in Kodagu, the district and session’s court has slapped lifer for eight more, yesterday.

The session’s judge Venktesh pronounced life sentence to eight members of a family led by Kalakanda Madappa, wife Tulasi of Parakatageri near Srimangala to have beaten to death Kalakanda Chinnappa on 11.4.2001.

The accused way laid Chinnappa near their property and beat him to death. They also beat Chinnappa’s wife who tried to protect him. Later the accused dragged the body and threw it in his house yard.

The accused are also asked to pay a fine of rupees five thousand, half of which will go to the widow of Chinnappa.

YOUTH DIES IN ACCIDENT;

Hoovanna Gowda, 38 died on the spot and a pillion rider was seriously injured as their bike bashed against a roadside mound.

According to police, Gowda and his friend Dinesh met with the accident around 11 p.m on 31st near Yeslur near Shanivarsanthe. While Gowda died on the spot, Dinesh had fallen unconscious until morning. He was later shifted to a hospital at Hassan.

NABARD ASSISTANCE CROSSES 2398 CRORE IN KARNATAKA;

National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has extended refinance assistance to banks in Karnataka to the tune of 1965 crores, towards production and investment credit during 2005 – 06, up from 1763 crore in the last fiscal year. Total assistance including other sectors has reached 2398 crores, according to the state General manager B.B.Mohanti.

Addressing scribes here, Mohanti said that a potential credit plan of rupees 604 crore to Kodagu was prepared for the year 2006 – 07.