Here are the big stories from Karnataka today

Karnataka Today newsletter: NWKRTC suspends bus driver for offering namaz on duty in Karnataka, and more

North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) has suspended, till further inquiry, bus driver A.R. Mulla, alias Nayaz Mulla (Hangal depot), on the charges of indiscipline and dereliction of duty. NWKRTC Haveri Divisional Controller has issued an order of suspension on the charge of stopping the bus and offering namaz in the seat behind the driver’s seat.

A senior officer will inquire into the incident. Until then, the driver-cum-conductor will remain suspended but is eligible to claim 50% of his salary. On April 30, images and videos of Mr. Mulla stopping the bus on the Hangal-Vishalgad route to offer namaz were shared on social media, prompting Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy to instruct NWKRTC officials to take up a probe.

Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal has suspended three policemen for alleged negligence in not reporting immediately to senior police officers about the mob lynching at the venue of a cricket match near Kudupu, in Dakshina Kannada, on April 27. Mangaluru Rural Police Inspector K.R. Shivakumar, Head Constable P. Chandra and Constable Yellalinga have been suspended.

Despite having prior information about mob lynching, Mr. Shivakumar did not inform senior police officers who visited the spot on April 27. The inspector then made use of the persons, who are accused of lynching, as complainant and witnesses to register a case of unnatural death. Subsequently, a case of mob lynching was registered.

The Forest Department of Karnataka captured a trouble-causing tusker at Magadi Estate in Halasulige village of Sakleshpur taluk in Hassan district on May 1. Local people believe this tusker was responsible for the death of Shanmukha, who died in an elephant attack at Baikere on April 25. They also believe that the animal had attacked a couple of agriculture workers in nearby villages.

The elephant task force tracked down the animal. Veterinarians successfully sedated the animal by firing a tranquiliser dart. Later, the task force captured the animal with the help of tamed elephants Kanjan, Sugreeva, Dhananjaya, Mahendra, Ekalavya and Karnataka Bhima. The captured tusker is about 20 years old.

In a rare initiative in Karnataka, Puttur City Municipal Council in Dakshina Kannada district has been converting wet waste into Bio Compressed Natural Gas (BioCNG). The BioCNG is being used to operate six vehicles of the municipality.