Dasara: Ministers' Run, Air Show Thrill Mysoreans
Mysore, Sept. 24 (SOM): Youth Services and Sports Minister Gulihatti Shekhar and District in-Charge Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who flagged off the 6th Dasara half-marathon in front of Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple this morning, joined the runners upto K.R. Circle.
Both the Ministers along with Dasara Sub-Committee members, sports officials, people's representatives, numbering about 30, accompanied more than 400 men and women who participated in the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Gulihatti Shekhar and Shobha Karandlaje stressed the need for promoting sports in Dasara festivities. They said that sports had got its due share. The locals should be given priority in Dasara sports competitions and this half-marathon is organised to enthuse the youth to take active part in Dasara sports.
The participants included 80 men, 45 women and 150 College and High School students in six categories.
Men's half-marathon (21.1 kms); women's half-marathon (21.1 kms); College boys (12 kms); College girls (6 kms); High School boys (6 kms); High School girls (3 kms).
The men's half-marathon race was followed by women's and the remaining categories. The half-marathon passed thro-ugh Hardinge Circle, JSS Circle, Ayurveda College Circle, Sayyaji Rao Road, Highway Circle, Millennium Circle, before reaching Mysore-Bangalore Highway enroute to Srirangapatna.
The marathon ended at CAVA for 3 kms race; at Bannimantap for 6 kms race and at Fishland Hotel on Mysore-Bangalore Highway for 12 kms race.
The traffic on the route was diverted in the city limits for smooth passage of marathon. Two ambulance, a team of doctors, volunteers and men riding on motorcycles as pilots, escorted the marathon runners.
While most of the competitors and children taking part in the marathon wore track suits, sports officials were clad in white.
Dasara Sports Sub-Committee Chairman S. Murali, Vice-Chairman B.K. Manjunath, Department of Youth Services and Sports Director P.G. Shettar, Deputy Director M.V. Srinivas, Dasara Sports Co-ordinator Vasanthkumar and other officials, MLC Siddaraju, Mylac Chairman M.V. Ravishankar and other leaders were present.
FLYING MACHINES THRILL MYSOREANS
Mysore, Sept. 24 : It was a thrilling experience for a crowd of about 25,000 in Bannimantap Grounds where the Indian Air Force (IAF) presented a full-fledged spectacular air show.
District In-charge Minister Shobha Karandlaje inaugurated the event at 10 am by releasing balloons and by herself operating Adarsh team's remote-controlled helicopter model. Earlier, MI-8 and Chetak helicopters landed in the ground.
The show began with the Chetak helicopter showering flowers from the skies. The Garuda Special Forces team members, who arrived by MI-8 helicopter, slithered on to the Ground and staged a 'mock attack' on the enemy camp. Recorded sound of bullets and other ammunition were played when this attack went on. This kind of operation was practically carried out during the terror attack in Mumbai last year.
Three Dornier Aircrafts presented the 'Small boy formation.' This aircraft, designed by Germans, is manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
Two Jaguar and one Hawk aircrafts (recently purchased from UK), presented a 'fighter formation', with Hawk aircraft at the centre and the two Jaguars accompanying it on either sides.
These aircraft have twice the speed of sound. The Jaguar took part in the Kargil war and has been displayed in several international aircraft exhibitions.
Five Mark-II Surya Kiran aircraft presented the most exciting event which could be termed the best of air show. These Surya Kiran aircraft came flying releasing smoke to form the national tri-colour. While the aircraft at the centre released white smoke, the other two flying on either side released saffron and green smoke.
They also presented breathtaking acts in the skies, before lining up in parallel and dispersing in five different directions, presenting the 'Surya Kiran' formation. Three advance light helicopter 'Sarang' flied past the ground three times releasing white smoke. While one went straight, the other two went in opposite directions, taking a sudden turn. This is a helicopter not specially meant for displaying air skills and a fewer number of air skills are performed involving these copters. Sarang team has presented shows in Singapore, UK, Chile, Germany etc.
Lastly, 8 soldiers presented a parachute show by dropping from MI-8 helicopter from a height of 8000 ft. The last three soldiers dropping to the ground presented a tri-colour flag formation with their parachutes. These eight soldiers represented the 'Akash Ganga' team.
District in-Charge Minister Shobha Karandlaje congratulated the Akash Ganga team as it touched the ground and also shook hands with the Garud Special Forces team members who sat on the benches after performing slithering and mock attack acts from MI-8 helicopter.
The Air Warriors Drill team also presented an attractive show. Lastly, Adarsha and team from Bangalore presented an exciting Aero-modelling show. Some of the remote operated toy helicopters and airplanes went just past the crowd much to their excitement. However, the crowd was advised through announcements not to make an attempt to catch them or feel worried.
MLA Tanveer Sait presided. Air Marshal K.K. Noahwar, Mayor Purushotham, MLA Satyanarayana, DC P. Manivannan, Police Commissioner Sunil Agarwal and others were present.
DC apologises as cops misbehave with media
Mysore, Sept. 24 : Deputy Commissioner P. Mani-vannan had to apologise to media persons for the alleged misbehaviour of Police personnel with them at Bannimantap Grounds.
It all started with some Police personnel refusing entry to media persons at any gate of the grounds.
They were so arrogant that they pushed around a media person while trying to grab his two-wheeler.
Manivannan rushed to the spot after receiving complaints from media persons.
They complained that the Police personnel abused, taunted and even tried to assault media persons even after showing passes issued by the Police Commissioner himself.
After apologising to the media, Manivannan noted down the names of Policemen who misbehaved assuring prompt action.
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