Rishab Pant steps up for K’taka girl
OB Bureau
When India’s star wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant stepped up recently, it wasn’t with bat in hand—but with a heartwarming act of generosity that’s now winning hearts across the country.
In a quiet village in Karnataka’s Bilagi taluk, 18-year-old Jyoti Kanaboor Math had the marks, the ambition, and the grit to pursue higher education. What she didn’t have was the money.
The daughter of a small tea stall owner in Rabakavi village, Jyoti had scored an impressive 83% in her Class 12 (II PUC) board exams. But the dream of studying for a Bachelor’s in Computer Applications (BCA) at BLDE College in Jamkhandi seemed to be slipping away.
That’s when a remarkable chain of kindness began.
Local contractor Anil Hunashikatti, known in the village for helping those in need, heard about Jyoti’s struggle and promised to do what he could. He reached out to friends in Bangalore—who happened to be close to cricketer Pant. Moved by the story, the cricketer didn’t think twice.
On July 17, Pant quietly transferred Rs 40,000 directly to the college to cover Jyoti’s first-semester fees—no fanfare, no social media post, just a heartfelt gesture that changed a young life.
Jyoti, overwhelmed, couldn’t hold back her gratitude. “May God bless Rishabh Pant with good health. His help means a lot to me. I hope he continues to support other students from poor backgrounds like me,” she said.
In a cricket-crazy country, Pant’s stroke of kindness has become the story of the season—proof that being a hero goes far beyond the pitch. By choosing to lift someone from the margins, Pant has not only backed a girl’s dream, but also reminded the country of what true sportsmanship looks like.
HL: Mob mayhem in Dharmasthala:
Strap: YouTubers attacked near mass grave site amid deepening the macabre mystery
OB Bureau
Police have registered two separate FIRs following a mob attack on a group of YouTubers near Dharmasthala mid-week. The incident, which unfolded amid heightened tensions over the ongoing SIT probe into an alleged mass burial case, triggered clashes between two groups. Authorities have since brought the situation under control.
According to police, four individuals, including a cameraman, associated with three different YouTube channels, were allegedly assaulted by a large mob while interviewing a person in Pangala, near Dharmasthala.
The first FIR refers to the physical assault on the YouTubers and the damage caused to two of their vehicles. It also includes a complaint regarding an alleged assault on a private news channel reporter during the same episode.
The second FIR has been filed for unlawful assembly at three locations – the incident site in Pangala, the premises of the Dharmasthala police station, and outside a local hospital. Police said they had to resort to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd at Pangala.
Medical personnel have preliminarily confirmed that none of the injured sustained serious harm. “Doctors have orally communicated that injuries are minor,” said a senior police official.
Authorities are currently reviewing video footage from the scene. “Legal action will be taken based on the findings of the ongoing investigation,” police added.
Last June, Dharmasthala’s sacred calm was pierced—not by chants, but by shovels and chilling revelations—when a Dalit man walked into a police station carrying skeletal remains, sparking one of Karnataka’s most disturbing criminal probes.
On July 18, CM Siddaramaiah ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ensure an impartial inquiry. What many initially dismissed as far-fetched is now gaining grim credibility.
Last week, the SIT recovered a skull and multiple bones—likely from the hands and legs—near the banks of the Nethravathi River, close to the site the whistleblower had identified as a dumping ground.
The case has revived memories of 17-year-old Sowjanya, who was raped and murdered in Dharmasthala in 2012—a case that drew public protests and allegations of cover-up at the time. Families and activists now believe Sowjanya may have been one of many.
Earlier in the probe, police recovered a torn red blouse and a PAN card belonging to a woman named Lakshmi at the first dig site. The whistleblower had also submitted a skull, allegedly dug up from one of the burial grounds.
HL: Tumakuru horror: Dog with human arm leads to gruesome find
OB Bureau
A routine weekday morning took a macabre turn near Chimpaganahalli village in Tumakuru district when a passerby spotted a stray dog emerging from the bushes—carrying a severed human arm in its mouth.
The stunned man watched in disbelief as the dog casually crossed the road between Koratagere and Kolala, the bloodied limb dangling from its jaws, a national daily reported.
Regaining composure, he immediately alerted the police by dialling the emergency number 112, setting off a chilling chain of events.
Responding swiftly, police launched a massive search operation and were shocked to discover dismembered human remains strewn across five different locations within a three-kilometre radius.
Among the body parts recovered were two arms, two palms, a mass of flesh, and portions of intestines—all in various stages of decomposition. The victim’s head remains missing, compounding the mystery.
“The remains appear to have been dumped recently, but signs of decay suggest they’d been there for some time,” said a senior officer. A forensic team from Bangalore and canine squads have joined the investigation.
Police believe the victim may be a woman, although a definitive identification will depend on forensic analysis. Alerts have been issued across Bangalore, Tumakuru, Ramanagar and Chikkaballapur to trace any recent missing person reports.