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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News Network
July 13,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 13: Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Monday said that the state government should provide vitamin C drug, Ayush Ministry-certified immunity boosters and sanitisers to every household in the wake of the coronavirus spread.

"Karnataka government should provide vitamin C drug, Ayush Ministry-certified immunity boosters and sanitisers to every household to fight against COVID-19," Kumaraswamy told media.

The JDS leader further stated that "appropriate medication should be provided to those who are "symptomatic" by the Karnataka government and added that "by taking such measures the government can halt the spread of the virus."

If the government is not able to provide the health kit to everyone then at least they should give it to the BPL families, he added.

Kumaraswamy also stressed upon organising awareness campaigns about the coronavirus and use of supplements among the masses to prevent themselves from contracting the infection.

According to the Union Health Ministry, Karnataka has recorded 38,843 cases of COVID-19 to date.

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News Network
March 5,2020

Mangaluru, Mar 5: Chairman of Karnataka Christian Development Committee (CDC) Joylus DSouza on Thursday welcomed the allocation of a Rs 200-crore grant in the state budget for the development of the Christian community.

In his message to the Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa released to the media, DSouza said, "Christians in Karnataka welcome with gratitude the announcement of Rs 200-crore allocation for the community in the budget for fiscal 2020-21."

In 2011-12 fiscal also, Yediyurappa as Chief Minister had allocated a grant of Rs 50 crore for the community for the first time in the history of the state, he said.

The grant of Rs 200 crore this year shows Yediyurappas concern for the Christians.

I congratulate and offer my sincere gratitude on behalf of the Christian community of the state to Yediyurappa, DSouza said.

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News Network
March 16,2020

Belagavi, Mar 16: Despite issuing an order banning large gathering, including lavish weddings, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa attended the grand marriage celebrations of the daughter of BJP MLC Mahantesh Kavatagimath in Belagavi on Sunday.

The Chief Minister had advised people to postpone weddings till the COVID-19 scare passed off, or to restrict the number of guests to around 100. But the wedding on the lawns of Shagun gardens in the Udyambag industrial area in Belagavi had many more times the number of visitors.

A police officer on duty at the venue estimated the crowd to be over 3,000.

The large gathering was in clear defiance of the government order and the Chief Minister’s appeal. But Mr. Yediyurappa’s presence seems to have vindicated this act.

Hundreds of cars were parked on both sides of the Khanapur road, outside the venue which was decorated with flowers, buntings, rolls of paper and colourful cloth. Two huge banners about preventing the spread of COVID-19 have been put up at the venue. There are wash basins at two ends and several hand sanitiser counters across the ground.

Apart from Union Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi, and ministers Srimanth Patil and MLA Mahesh Kumthalli, there were several leaders from the BJP, the Congress and the JD(S) who attended the marriage. There were some officers from the city corporation and district administration among the guests.

The Chief Minister arrived around 11 a.m. and stayed for nearly an hour at the venue. He left after wishing the couple and greeting some leaders.

On his arrival, at the Sambra airport, Mr. Yediyurappa said the State was well-equipped to handle the spread of the infection. “Over one lakh have been tested. Among the 100 suspected cases, the virus was detected only in six persons. One person has died. But otherwise the situation is under control. Officers are working round the clock,’’ he said.

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