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Media's role in homestay attack being looked at: ADGP

July 29, 2012

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Mangalore, July 29: The role of media in the Mangalore homestay party attack is being looked into with all seriousness, said Bipin Gopalkrishna, ADGP (Law and Order).

Addressing media persons on Sunday at a press meet at the Police Commissioner's office in Mangalore after inspecting the homestay site where the assault on young boys and girls took place at Padil, Mr. Gopalkrishna said that a section of the police are also looking into the role played by a section of the media in instigating the attacks.

Stating that reporters of two Kannada TV news channels are under the scanner, Mr. Gopalkrishna said that mediapersons should have informed the police if they knew about the scheduled assault in advance. However, the ADGP said that the TV channels will also be given a chance to explain their stance.

He also said that FIRs have been filed against two media persons belonging to two different channels.

The top cop said that eight persons by name Rajesh, Taranath (s/o Gangadhar), Subhash Padil, Ganesh, Venugopal, Sandeep Shetty, Sharath and Tharanath (s/o Babu) have been arrested after last evening's incident. The arrested belong to Hindu Jagarana Vedike, he said. “When we questioned Subhash Padil, he admitted that he is a Hindu Jagarana Vedike leader but maintained that he and his group had gone there only to protest but eventually some of his boys got over enthusiastic”, Mr. Gopalakrishna said.

The police department is serious about the incident, he said, stating that cases of assault, outraging modesty of a girl, dacoity, being part of unlawful assembly, prevention of destruction of property act have been booked against the arrested. The assaulters even tried to steal Rs.10,000 and snatch a girl's gold chain, he said. About 15-20 persons were party to the assault and the other 6-7 persons will also be arrested soon, the ADGP said.

The complaint has been filed by Vijay Kumar, the event manager who organized the party. The status of the homestay's legality is also being looked at, he said. However, the homestay is said to have been functioning without license.

The ADGP denied that Mangalore had become a frequent victim of moral policing assaults. “The earlier incident of pub attack took place in 2009 and this one has taken place now in 2012. I don't think there is a frequent occurrence or a pattern of any sort here”, he said.

The top cop also denied that police had not done their duty to the best of their ability. “As soon as we got the message we have approached the spot. Yes due to travel time, by the time we got there the assault had taken place but our main priority was to protect the students”, he said. All students who were at the receiving end of the assault were locals, he said.

All precautionary measures to maintain law and order in the city have been taken. About 200 additional police personnel from other parts of the state have been deployed in the city. Prohibitory orders will be in force for three days, the ADGP said.

Seemanth Kumar Singh, Mangalore Police Commissioner, said that the police department is also verifying whether assaulters of 2009 pub attack had taken part in the homestay attack too.

Related:

Embarrassed by 'Hindutva molestation' BJP govt. rushes top cop to Mangalore

'Custodians of Hindu culture' barge into party; molest girls

Did TV channel crew enjoy molestation of helpless girls by Hindutva activists?

Hindutva activists taken into custody for violating Section 144

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Mangaluru, Apr 22: A team of officials raided the Big Bags International Pvt Ltd premises here on Tuesday following the apprehensions expressed by locals that the company has violated lockdown rules by resuming operations on April 20.

On Monday several workers of the firm from Kerala, Tumakuru and Bengaluru were reported to be at the premises to resume operations.

The raiding team asked the management to temporarily shut down operations and asked the workers to leave the place.

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News Network
February 16,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 16: Deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi’s election to the lone vacant council seat, for which a bypoll has been called, is only a formality as the only other candidate in the contest, independent BR Anil Kumar, dropped out on Saturday.

Kumar conveyed his decision to council secretary and returning officer Vishalakshmi. He decided to withdraw from the February 17 bypoll after failing to get support from Congress and JD(S) legislators.

The bypoll was necessitated after sitting member Rizwan Arshad of Congress resigned as he moved to the legislative assembly as an MLA. Rizwan won the Shivajinagar bypoll in December last year.

“Since the notification on candidates in the fray, after the last date of withdrawal, has already been published, irrespective of any candidate’s retirement, the election has to be conducted,” an official said.

Savadi’s victory was always assured as BJP has 119 members in the House.

Still, Ramanagara BJP district president Rudresh and MP BY Raghavendra reportedly approached Kumar, urging him to withdraw. Kumar, however, denied that he was persuaded by BJP.

“I entered the fray thinking secular parties and likeminded MLAs will support me, but that didn’t happen, so I decided to retire,”he said.

A section of Congress and JD(S) politicians, led by former minister HD Revanna, had persuaded Kumar to enter the contest with the hope that disgruntlement among some BJP legislators over Savadi’s promotion as the deputy CM would result in an upset.

Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy also offered to support Kumar. Siddaramaiah of Congress refused to do the same. Congress and JD(S) did not field any candidates of their own as they don’t have the requisite numbers in the House.

Savadi must get elected to the council before February 20, otherwise he will lose his cabinet role. According to rules, a person who is not a member of either House should get elected within six months after becoming a minister. Savadi took oath on August 20 last year.

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News Network
June 28,2020

Mangaluru, Jun 28: In an attempt to curb fast spreading Coronavirus and to bring discipline among the public to follow the guidelines and also as it was found difficult to control the visitors, the City Corporation Mayor Diwakar has ordered closure of the office for one week with immediate effect from Monday.

Public will be banned from entering the MCC building for a period of one week from Monday, he said.

In a circular the Mayor has requested the public to co-operate and help the administration to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

However, a help desk will be set up outside the MCC building where people can submit their applications and requests.

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