Will CM stay in Madrasas?

Muslims in DK begin to question
By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The recent statement of chief minister HD Kumaraswamy that he was ready to stay in madrasas, has evoked mixed response from various organisations. In fact the chief minister said so following widespread opposition to his earlier statement that madrasas were centres of terrorism. Today, Muslims in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi are questioning if the CM would actually spend a night in a madrasa. Presently, the two districts have the highest number of madrasas in the whole of the state.
At the same time, Muslim organisations here are not ready to accept the CM’s statement as was evident from the protest staged in the city recently by the Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD). The Congress leaders have on their part left no stone unturned in attacking the chief minister on the issue, forcing the JD(S ) men to come to the CM’s rescue by questioning whether the Congres during its rule had given cabinet berth to a Muslim legislator from the district.
Later on, during former prime minister Deve Gowda’s visit to the city recently, even a former police officer Abdul Azeem had accompanied the former and the two had visited the slaughter house in Mangalore. This, many feel, was nothing but a means of appeasing the minorities.
Knowing very well of the JD(S) stategy, even the Congress minorities cell chief Sageer Ahmed had arrived in Mangalore recently and condemned the CM’s statement on madrasas and suggested the CM to pay a surprise visit to madrasas and stay there.
In the meantime, the Sri Rama Sene leaders while welcoming the CM’s stament on encouragement of terrorism in madrasas, said the CM’s recent statement that he was ready to spend a night in a madrasas could however not be accepted. The Sene leaders have also urged the CM not to succumb to any pressure in this regard.
On the other hand, KFD leaders have threatened to stage a demonstration in front of the chief minister’s residence on September 19 to protest against the apathy of the state government towards the increasing atrocities on minorities.
The organisation further says the chief minister who first issued a derogatory statement on madrasas had later to make amendments had said he would stay in a madarasa. It further said it would not allow the CM to do so.
In a way the CM’s statement on madrasas is taking an interesting turn with the passing of each day.

Ladyhill-Durgamahal concretisation: trees axed despite protests

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : It has been found that the authorities have initiated steps towards felling trees on the raodsides on the Ladyhill-Duragmahal Road which is being widened and concretised, though these trees are in no way obstructing the road works. What has been gathered of late is that the city corporation has embarked upon such a step at the behest of one of its free advisors.
As a first phase of the Ladyhill-Carstreet concretisation works, the Ladyhill-Durgamahal road project has been taken up and despite the appeal made by locals and other social organisations against felling the roadside trees, so far three trees have been felled, while all the branches of two others have been cut off, with all the five being banyan trees. Apart from these five, the authorities after uprooting a peepal tree had planted it in a nearby place in order to avert hurting the religious sentiments of the people.
But now, it has been gathered that plans are afoot to axe all ther roadside trees in the area, courtesy the advice of MCC’s free advisor much to the resentment of the locals who say these trees do not at all come in the way of the project implementation.
It is strongly believed that the notorious builder Dharmaraj was behind the suggestion and presently reports are also indicative of the fact that some changes are brought about in the project mainly to suit the interests of two industrialists who are owning buildings in the area.

Nagarjuna officials attack villagers

From CT correspondent
PADUBIDRI : Close on the heels of a recent public meeting convened in Padubdiri to enable political parties to make clear their stand on the controversial project, the Nagarjuna officials have been accused of attacking a few members of the Nandikur Jana Jagrithi Samithi and some villagers.
It has been learnt that a few officials of the company who entered the residence of a certain Ramamurthi in Kemmundelu in Ellur village, somehow persuaded the occupants of the house to watch CDs about the project. However, on getting information of the same, villagers and some members of the Nandikur Janajagrithi Samithi rushed to the residence of Ramamurthi only to be attacked by the Nagar-juna staff in their bid to escape. Two persons named Jayaprakash and Lokesh were injured in the process.
In this connection, complaints have been lodged against Nagarjuna officials MM Shetty, Veena Shetty, staffers namely Prashanth, Sridhar, Gopal, Sanjeev, Suresh, Pratibha, Mohini, Sundari, Malati, Sadhana and Prasad.
On the other hand, even the Nagarjuna officials have also lodged a counter complaint stating that two of their men have been admitted to the hospital, following which cases have been registered against Santosh Shetty and Lokesh.
Members of the Jana Jagrithi Samithi even staged a demonstration outside the station seeking action against the attackers.
Their complaint was that the Nagarjuna staff who attacked them, later on went straight to the hospital to get admitted merely to twist facts.

No security to Udupi Krishna Mutt?

From our Udupi office
UDUPI : It has been several months since newspaper reports referring to intelligence reports indicated about the terrorist threat to the Udupi Krishna Mutt which was in the hit list of terrorists. Then there were reports that the temple would be brought under security cover and strict vigil would be maintained.
But, it has been noticed of late that there has been a serious security lapse with actually no major security arrangements made in the temple, thereby staking the interests of the thousands of devotees visiting the temple.
Except for a namesake metal detector at the entrance of the temple, no other security arrangement has been made. What has been noticed at present is that anyone can enter freely without any restriction from
Contd. on page 7
the rear door of the temople.
As in any other ordinary temple, any suspicious person can enter this temple in the guise of a devotee and the absence of proper security arrangements in the temple is only inviting terrorists, locals feel.The temple management by neglecting the security aspect, was playing with the lives of the people, many feel.
There is no dearth of funds for the Krishna Mutt. Still the apathy of the management in making adequate security arrangements has made many eyebrows raise.
The devotees ardently feel that the government should take serious note of this security lapse and direct the temple administration to ensure adequate security arrangements.

Point of view

by B.V. SEETARAM

(1)

Gaonkar case: Acid test to home minister

• The Bunder poplice station inspector Vinay Gaonkar who is presently under suspension can very well be a good example to prove as to how a once honest and efficient police officer, can even turn into an arrogant and rude officer. Holding the post of an inspector in a police station in the heart of the city, he could have very well earned a good repute for himself in a short span if he so wished. But on the contrary, Gaonkar chose the path which led thim to being the number one corrupt and arrogant officer. The tragedy is that Gaonkar who had earned a good name for himself in the initial days of his becoming an SI and then an inspector, later changed ways much to the disappointment and dismay of many.
  At the same time one also feels pity for this officer who fell in the pit which he himself had dug. However, there is one basic difference between the suspension of Gaonkar after a departmental probe, and in case of suspension of other police officials when allegations are heard against them.
  In Gaonkar’s case, the Western Range DIG has shown him the doors as per the directive of the State IGP in the backdrop of a report following an investigation into the allegations against Gaonkar, by a DySP rank officer. Therefore, Gaonkar cannot even enjoy the benefit of doubt that he has fallen prey to some vested interests. In his case, the complaint filed to the home minister himself was referred to the department for a probe and the department too had no other go but to probe.Generally, in case any officer has to be suspended, then senior police officials use their discretionary powers. But, in case of Gaonkar suspension, the department has pursued the procedural route. As the probe proved Gaonkar guilty, he was suspended and any IGP had to do this.
  It may not be wrong to say that the suspension of Gaonkar is the minimum possible disciplinary action against him. What is needed for the police department is to file an FIR and chargesheet against Gaonkar for illegally detaining an innocent citizen for days together and then torturing him.Action should be initiated against Gaonkar on the lines of the action that would be taken against any ordinary citizen who commits an offence. It is only then that justice can be meted out in this case.
  Presently, it has been noticed that the district minister Nagaraj Shetty is leaving no stone unturned in shielding Gaonkar. Shetty by doing so has only exposed the values pursued by him.
  Moreover, reports even say that Gaonkar was trying to exert influence on a Moodbidri based JD leader to get his suspension order revoked. If that is true, then the allegations against Gaonkar would be weighing further more. What is now expected of the police department is an FIR against Gaonkar and suspension from departmental service.
  In toto it can be said tha the Gaonkar episode is an acid test to the home minister MP Prakash who does not mind giving non-stop speeches on commitment in social life, whenever he gets an opportunity.

(2)

City fast turning into concrete jungle

• The recent High Court directive to the state government against regularising illegal constructions, did not make much news. The reason being that this is the second interim order by the High Court in the past few months on the illegal multi-storied building issue.
  The High Court directive to the city corporation earlier stating "Don’t permit illegal multi-storied constructions" in itself included a clear-cut order as to what has to be done in case of the already constructed illegal buildings and those buildings which are in construction stages.
  The Mangalore cit corporation, by now ought to have razed to the ground the nearly two dozens of illegal constructions sans licence. But, due to its apathy, the corporation is only encouraging coming up of more unlicenced constructions.
  The citizens of Mangalore came to know the fact about the unlikely government and MCC action against illegal builders the very day on which the then MCC commissioner Chandrappa was shunted solely for the reason that his acts were not favourable to the builders. In the meantime, the demand to have Chandrappa reinstated in his original position in the MCC just turned out to be a cry in the wilderness.
  It may not be wrong to say that the policies pursued by the present BJP-JD(S) government in the state on clearing the hurdles put forth by the illegal constructions in the way of planned development, was no different form those pursued by the earlier Congress-JD(S) governments.
  In that case, the erstwhile CM Dharam Singh itself can be considered better. Today, rumour mills are spinning that the builders have pleased the chief minister and deputy chief minister in order to see that they did not poke their nose into this issue.
  The builders who are raising illegal constructions without waiting for any approval areonly making life hell for Mangaloreans. The Mangalore city corporation as well as the district administration, through their apathetic attitude are also involved in this serious crime. The Mangalore city corporation officials who ought to have initiated strict action against the illegal constructions by razing them to the ground during the initial stages of construction itself, by not doing so have only betrayed Mangaloreasns. The time is now opportune for the civic organisations to think as to what action is fit in this case of the fence itself grazing the crop and then act in a pro-active manner.
  If at all the builders who are now raising constructions even on narrow roads without leaving any setback space, are allowed to have their way, then we will have to see days when the city is full of buildings with not even an inch to spare.
  Presently in Mangalore, the term town planning has been restricted to mere academic circles with nothing much effort made to implement the same.
  Today, citrizens are forced to ask if the Mangalore Urban Development Authority is a mere namesake authority. After all, what is the role of the MUDA in the planned development of Mangalore ?.
  Already, citizens are beginning to feel the brunt of their city tunring out into a concrete jungele. Most of the commercial complexes that have come up in the city do not have ample parking or just no parking space. In case of any mishap like collapse of a portion of the building or fire mishap, there is no way the fire service vehicle could move nearby.
  Presently, Mangalore is next only to Bangarlore as a city which is attracting the highest investment. Considering the rising populatuion as well as the increasing density of vehicles on the roads here, if at all the building bye-laws are violated, then there may come a day, when let alone entry of new projects, even the existing industries might think of moving out.
  It is a tragedy that the future generation will have to pay the price for the gross neglect of ours. This is indeed a matter of great concern.

Top excise officers suspended for failing to reach target

MANGALORE : In a sudden development, the state government has issued an order suspending the excise joint commissioner Rajanna and the Udupi dstrict excise comissioner Haridas recently.
But many may wonder if the two officials might have committed serious blunders. But no, that is not the case. The main charges against them is that they had failed in reaching the targetted liquor sale.
The area of operation of the excise joint commissioner comes in Udupi, Karkala, Shimoga and Kodagu districts Presently, it has been gathered that liquor sale in Udupi was down and the two top officials have been victimised for no fault of theirs.

Fake Lokayukta case: No action against MCC officer

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The failure of the district superintendent of police as well as the district Lokayukta to register cases against the MCC official who bribed the fake Lokaykta, has raised many a eyebrow. Though the corporation’s assistant town planning officer Manjunath had lodged a complaint with the police that he had paid Rs 12.5 lakh to the fake Lokayukta officials, the police have only arrested the imposters but not initiated any action against the MCC officer who dared to give a staggering amount as bribe.
Several including the Nagarika Hitarakshana Samithi president Hanumantha Kamath had lodged a comolaint questioning why no action against the MCC official who bribed the fake Lokayukta offiicals and thereby proved himself to be corrupt. As per the Anti-Corruption Act, both those who give as well as accept bribe are liable for punishment and on this ground even the police can file a chargesheet against the officer. But, the failure of the police department to do so , has only pinpointed towards the department’s contibution to the rising corruption,says Hanumanth Kamath of the Nagarika Hitharakshana Samithi.

Top officials enjoying adorning pvt functions

MANGALORE : Of late, it has been noticed that there has been a growing tendency among the senior government officials of the district to participate in private functions, thus delivering a wrong message to the public.
It is common to see the DC, IGP, SP, AC and other senior officials attending one or the other private functions, sometimes even less important functions, these days. The government servants who are meant to serve the public are just wiling away time in private unimportant functions like inaugural of some departmental stores, textile shop, jewellery shop and so on with each of these functions taking at least two hours. This only means that these officials are spending their duty hours outside their offices by taking part in private functions, thus neglecting their official duties which should be their top most priority.
Moroever, what is most alarming is that there are some vested interests which invite these top officials to their functions, just to have their way and to avoid the noose of law by rubbing shoulders with senior officials. The general feeling among the masses is that the government should issue stern instructions to its officials against taking part in private functions which are of virtually no use.

Imposter arrested

Fake doc had collected donations
for breast cancer detection camps


By CT reporter
MANGALORE : Barke polie have recently arrested a certain Sharath Kumar on the charges of cheating sev eral people by posing himself as a doctor who would conduct breast cancer detection camps.
Reports have indicated that this man had cheated thousands of people particularly in Shirva, Shankerpura, NMPT and Besant College and other places by collecting Rs 25 as donation for the breast cancer detection camps which he would conduct. It is learnt he had recently met the Canara
College authorities in the city and had held talks with the lecturers and principals about the camps.Though initially they were forced to believe this cheat, later on suspicion, the police were informed. Though Sharath Kumar managed to escape, his assistant one Suneetha Barke of Padil was apprehended
Later, the Barke police, on gathering information about the imposter, contacted him through a third person and saw to it that he came to a place near Besant Complex where he was arrested.
Investigations have revealed that this Sharath Kumar was a jouranlist earlier who even contends that he has authored books on Sri Kshetra Kateel and Sharavu Temple. The 58 year old man used to stay in a rented room wherever he went and then used to call for employees and use the services of some innocent women who fell prey to this tactics. He, it is learnt, had even founded organisations named Sevashrama Charitable Trust, Ladyhill and Karnataka (Kanya Cancer) Women Cancer Protection Centre Talapady, and then on the pretext of helping the poor used to raise donations for his proposed camps.
Now, police have seized the letter heads, seals, handouts and other booklets of this fake organisatiosn.
It has been learnt that , he had even hired a room in Besant Lane since the past one month. Interestingly, his wife was totally unaware of the misdeeds of her husband.
Investigations are in progress.

Corporators’ bid to promote draftsman as JE!

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : It has come to light of late that city mayor Ashraf along with some corporators had made a bid to promote a draftsman in the city corporation to the post of a junior engineer.
Reports say already a letter has been forwarded to the state government through the corporation commissioner seeking promotion of the draftsman Ashok Kumar as junior engineer. Though the civic administration department has rejected the proposal on the grounds that Ashok Kumar’s educational qualification was low, attempts are still unedrway to make him the JE.
It may be recalled here that once earlier, an attempt had been made to promote a junior engineer named Linge Gowda as assistant executive engineer. Apart from these, two draftmen have also been made engineers in the last two years.
Recently, junior engineers namely Dejappa, Simon and Ashraf have been transferred and a certain Roopa appointed in their place. However, owing to the petty politics within MCC, Roopa has been assigned only some minor works.
The main intention of the corporators in having their own men as engineers is to have their way in the MCC. What is more alarming is that both the BJP and the Congress corporators have joined their hands in this act.

Rs 15000 mamool to cops from Udupi buses every day!

From our Udupi office
UDUPI : Here is a startling piece of news -that the Udupi’s traffic police have been collecting on an aveaage Rs 15000 as mamool at the rate of Rs 5 per city bus every day from all the buses in Udupi since the past ten years.
Sources have indicated that a person from Uppoor has been assigned the responsibility of collecting mamool from tthe city buses, to be handed over to the traffic police.
This particular person can be found collecting the mamool every evening for which he gets commission from the cops. Indeed a good job. Such a work is underway since the past ten years, it is said.
There are around 100 city buses in Udupi and the mamool, it is learnt is collected from all the buses sparing none.
Even the bus crew and operators are fully cooperative with the traffic police as far as the mamool is concerned, as this is the only way by which they can prevent the traffic police from bookng them in case of violation of any traffic rule. In case a bus owner refuses to pay the mamool, then he has to rest assured that he would be booked for one reason or the other the very next day.
On the other hand, there are even some bus crew who complain that the traffic police book them even if they duly paid their mamool. That is something interesting !

Illegal constrns by Manipal Pais

From our Udupi office
UDUPI : Reports of late indicate that the Manipal Pais have raised two two storied cosntructions behind their printing press in Manipal, by flouting construction rules. Even the Udupi TMC has remained a silent spectator to this open flouting of rules.
Citizens are complaining that the buildings are coming up sans setback space and licence.
Apart from the above, it has been gathered that another builder is raising an unlicenced commercial complex in the Hindu orphanage land near the Hotel Annapoorna. Even this building is devoid of parking and setback space. It is also being said that a commecial building is coming up in this land belonging to a trust.

Bldg newly constructed on pretext of renovation in Hampankatta

MANGALORE : It has been gathered that a new bulding has been raised in Hampankatta, the heart of the city by demolishing an earlier constrcution, after securing permission only for tbe renovation of the old building by the MCC.
A building in front of the old gate of the Wenlock Hospital in the city, having two shops, was sold to a certain Sheikh Ahmed Sharief in the year 2000.
The new owner who had applied for permission for renovation, has now demolished the construction and had raised a new building. Just to prove that it was renovation the front portion (wall) of the earlier building has been retained.
Though the Nagarika Hitharakshana Samithi had complained to the Mangalore city corporation in this regard and the Commissioner had convened a meeting then, the owner and his advocate had contended that it was just renovation refuting the complaint of the Samithi leader Hanumantha Kamath that the building was constructed newly and discretely.
Then the commissioner had assured a site inspection and had also promised to seek expert opinion on the issue with nothing much taking place until now.

Gaonkar, Barke SI suspended

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The District Anti-Rowdy Squad chief Vinay Gaonkar and the Barke sub-inspector Pavan Kumar have been suspended from services recently.
The action followed a departmental probe against Gaonkar in the backdrop of a complaint lodged with the home minister himself by a certain Ronald Gilbert D’Souza who was illegally detained and tortured by Gaonkar on the charges of forging signature of Gurupur Jangama Mutt Swamiji.
Gilbert in his complaint stated that he was an ioncoent who was illegally detained by Gaonkar who fell prey to the lurings of some vested interests.
As per the minister’s directive, a departmental probe was ordered against Gaonkar, proving the charges against himfollowing which the officer has now been suspended. Gaonkar who was known as a tough and honest cop during the initial years of service, later began to face allegations of inaction with him reportedly handling cases merely sitting in the station. There were also complaints that he colluded with criminal elements and was also accused of being rash, arrogant and rude.
Amidst these complaints, the recent Ronald arrest case came up. Gaonkar had in fact invited the wrath of the IGP Satyanarayana Rao a month ago itself when the latter had taken the former to task. Now, he has been suspedned along with the Barke SI Pavan Kumar. The exact reason for the Barke SI’s suspension is not known.
Demand : In the meantime, advocate Dinesh Hegde Ulepadi while speaking to presspersons in the city recently, has demanded that the Bunder inspector Vinay Gaonkar be suspended from government service itself.
He even demanded registering of an FIR against Gaonkar and also action against those who had lodged false complaint against Ronald Gilbert D’Souza who had to undergo much mental agony and torture.
Ronald Gilbert who was also present at the press meet was just unable to control his emotions when he began explaining the incident. Finally, unable to speak, he walked out.

Agnes student forced to lose a year

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : Here is an instance to prove to what extent our higher authorities can be apthetic that they can even hesitate to deliver justice in a case where the guilt of the other party is amply proved.
This is the cae of Yashwatha, a I PUC student of St Agnes College during the last academic year. The girl was deliberately failed by the college authorities in the first PUC exams, as has been proved following scrutiny of her answer sheet. But still, the college has refused to pass the student. On the other hand, even the deputy director of the pre-university education department has hesitated to issue suitable instructions to the college authorities thereby forcing Yashwatha to lose one valuable year.
Yashwatha is a student hailing from a poor family with her mother working as a sweeper in a private company on a temporary basis.
What actually happened?
When Yashwatha had been to see the results along with her friends, she found that she had failed much to her disappointment. Not only she, but three others had also failed. But Yashwatha who was optmistic applied to have a look at the answer sheet and it came to light that she was deliberately given less marks. Even though the matter was brought to the notice of the principal, it did not help much. The student then approached Hanumantha Kamath, President of the Nagarika Hitharakshana Samithi.
Responding immediately, Kamath met the college principal and requested her to secure justice to the student. But, when that failed, he got her answer sheet corrected by experienced lecturers from other colleges including Canara PU College, Besant and Government pre-university college. The student secured pass marks in the valuation by all these lecturers. But, the tragedy is that she could not pass in her own college. This makes it ample clear that the student was deliberately failed. What has been gathered of late is that during the current academic year, admissions have been given to four new students to II PUC by securing a donation of Rs 25000 each. It is now suspected that Yashwatha and three others were failed just to give way for these new students.
Hanumanth Kamath says the deputy director of the PU education department despite being aware of the irregularities in the St Agnes College and the injustice done to the student,has remained mum and wants Lokayukta to take serious note of this case.

Explosives seized from Tamil eve in Karkala

From CT correspondent
KARKALA : Karkala police recently arrested a woman of Tamil origin and have seized explosive devices worth around Rs 40,000 from her.
The explosives were traced when the cops on suspicion stopped the woman named Susheela (50) who was on way to Chikkalbettu from Jarkala junction in Kukkundur village. The explosive materials included 125 powergel explosive, 525 intallation electrical detonators, 1000 gelatin sticks and four brand jet connections.
The accused has been produced before court and remanded to 15 days of judicial custody.
It is believed that there were several others like Susheela who transport explosives in Karkala area . While some are used for mining purposes, even the possibility of these explosives reaching the hands of Naxals who are active in the region, cannot be ruled out.
In the meantime reliable sources indicated that some persons of Kerala and Tamil Nadu origin were supplying explosives to some in the region.
Investigations are in progress.

Hitendra blackmailing even after death!

From CT correspondent
KUNDAPUR : It is absolutely true that the notorious rowdy Hitendra Prasad who was murdered in Manipal on August 22, used to blackmail and threaten numerous people during his life time. But is he resorting to the same tactic even after death ? This is a point to ponder with following a recent report.
According to reports, Shesharigi Hebbar, secretary of the Maravanthe panchayat in Kundapur had received frequent telephone calls from a person claiming himself to be Hitendra Prasad and threateneing to write ar report against him in his fortnightly,
The person on the phone, it is learnt, told Hebbar that he was aware of the scam in the panchayat and that he would report the same.
But the panchayat secretary who is confident that no scam had taken place in the panchayat, had even directed the caller to meet him personally.
It has been learnt that some of Hitendra’s accomplices used to threaten locals in the name of his magazine and now it is for sure that it is the same persons who are threatening people in the name of their rowdy leader Hitendra who is now no more.

HC directs govt against regularising city’s illegal constrns

MANGALORE : The Karnataka High Court has directed the state government against issuing licences or regularising the illegal multi-storied constructions that have come up in the city. The High Court directive to the government follows a public interest litigation filed by the Citizens’ Forum for Planned Development of Mangalore, pleading legal action against the several multi-storied buildings that have come up in the city without the requisite permission from the corporation and without obtaining no-objection certificate from the fire servcies department.
The Forum, in its writ had also pointed out that around 80 multi-storied buildings have come up in the city sans any permission and had also referred to the high level lobbying by the builders of these illegal constructions to secure permission.
The Divisional Bench of the High Cout which accepted the writ for hearing, while postponing the hearing for another two weeks, has directed the government not to grant licence to the illegal constructions.

Waste treatment plant at Alevoor opposed

From our Udupi office
UDUPI : The Udupi district administration and TMC plans to set up the waste treatment plant of Udupi in Pragathinagar of Alevoor gram panchayat lkimits has been widely opposed by locals.
It has been learnt that the district administration and the TMC were now planning to set up the plant in the 22 acre lush green gomala land belonging to the revenue department. However, locals feel any attempt to set up the plant in the area would mean problems for those owning fields and agricultural lands in the vicinity. Recently,when the authorities had begun work in the area by bringing a JCB machinery, it was widely opposed by locals.
In the meantime it has been gathered that the Alevoor gram panchayat secretary, at the behest of the Udupi tahsildar has begun serving notices to those residing in the government land to vacate the same. Even those opposing the project are served notices, it is learnt. On the other hand, it is also being said that the authorities are hell bent upon going ahead with the project as per the Supreme Court directive, failing which they will have to face action.

Lecturer rushing to aid of student attacked by cops

KUNDAPUR : In a shocking incident reported from Kundapur recently, Bhasker Mayya, notedwriter and lecturer in Kundapur Bhandarkar’s College was abused and attacked by the Kota police personnel when the lecturer had rushed to the aid of one of his studetnts who was attempting suicide.
The incident took place at Kundapur recently.
Sridhar, a student of Mayya was in love with a young lady of his community. But, recently when Sridhar found that the girl’s family had forcibly got her married to some other man in Tirthahalli, a shocked Sridhar decided to end his life and contacted his teacher Mayya to inform of his extreme decision.
A shocked Mayya immediately rushed to his studnet’s house along with his wife in the dead of the night and had even informed the Kota police.
But the Kota police instead of appreciating Mayya’s presence of mind, chose to abuse and attack him leaving his wife helpless. She however later on somehow managed to free him from the clutches of the cops and got him hospitalised. In fact, Mayya is also a Sahitya Academy award winner and the attack on this writer has already invited the wrath of progressive thinkers sand various organisations which have taken up cudgels against the Kota police personnel.
Various progressive organisations have also decided to stage a protest in the city and urge the chief minister to initiate action against the Kota inspector Gopal Nair and his staff for their heinous act.

PA Hegde to head Anti-Rowdy Squad?

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : Will the Pandeshwar circle inspector PA Hegde be made the next chief of the District Anti-Rowdy Squad ? Yes, say police department sources. But, the district superintendent of police B Dayanand is yet to say yes to this.
Ever since Gaonkar has been suspended, several officials are eying the Bunder station as well as the Anti-Rowdy Squad. It has been the custom since long that the inspectors of Bunder station have themselves been made the Anti-Rowdy Squad chiefs.
Here it may be worth recalling here that PA Hegde had once taken up the responsibility of the Squad when he was the sub-inspector in Pandeshwar station. Now, it is also being said that PA Hegde is enjoying the patronage of the Kalladka high command of the Sangh Parivar which was also instrumental in shunting Venkatesh Prasanna, known as one of the corrupt officers, from Pandeshwar to Mulki.
In the meantime, leaders of some Hindu organisations are demanding that in case it was not PA Hegde, then at least the Ullal inspector Jayanth Shetty should be made the Squad chief.

Deviprasad Shetty swears in name of Kollur Mookambika

From our Udupi office
UDUPI : In an intresting incident that took place during the JD(S) district workers’ meet at Udupi on the occasion of the visit of the national president Deve Gowda, the Udupi district JD(S) president Deviprasad Shetty swore in the name of the Kollur Goddess Mookambika that he had not indulged in any bad deed.
Shetty swore in the presence of Gowda and several other JD(S) leaders during his address which ended with the swearing. Probably, this is jut another gimmick by Shetty whose image is already tainted follwing the murder of Hitendra which exposed all his misdeeds of collecting hafta from live bands and other illegal dens along with Hitendra.

Chandrappa case: Court accepts chargesheet against mayor

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : In an interesting development, the city JMFC court has accepted the chargesheet filed against city mayor Ashraf by the police in connection with the case of abusing the then MCC commissioner P Chandrappa who is now the MUDA commissioner, during an eviction drive near Nehru Maidan some time back.
The chargesheet was filed againt the mayor following the complaint lodged by Chandrappa alleging that Ashraf had abused him in the presence of revenue officer Mallayya.
The eviction drive had taken place on June 14 under the supervision of Mallayya when Ashraf who arrived at the spot rebuked the then commissioner for launching the drive without taking him into confidence. Two days later Chandrappa had filed the police complaint.
The police had later on sought the court permission to file an FIR and following the permission the chargesheet has been filed.The case has been filed as per IPC Section 504.

Sky bus-does M’lore really need it?

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The sky bus proposal put forth for the city by the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industries, with a view to ease traffic congestion on the city roads, has been forwarded to the Mangalore Urban Development Authority and presently, a debate is on in public circles with regard to the feasibility of the project.
This project which may take a minimum of ten years for implementation is seen as a major step towards easing traffic congestion in the days to come. At the same time, some are of the view that such a multi-crore project is unnecessary for the city of Mangalore the traffic problems of which can be averted to a great extent through widening of roads and systematic traffic arrangements.
Though the KCCI pro-posal is to have a sky bus facility from Haleyangady to Ammembala near Konaje, the deputy commissioner M Maheshwara Rao who is also the MUDA chairman has suggested an alternate route.
The Mangalore legislator Yogish Bhat on the other hand seems to be keen in going ahead with the project as even the deputy chief minister Yadiyurappa has assured a grant of Rs one crore for a feasibility study of the project.
Even the Konkan Railway Corporation has backed this project and everything now depends on the MUDA decision.
Though sky bus travelling is not that costly, the city’s traffic system which is already in chaos will be thrown out of gear during the implementation stages of sky bus facility, that will take a minimum of ten years during when even the density of vehicles on the city roads would increase by several folds.
On the other hand, some are of the contention that the city needs projects that can be easily implemented in a short span at a time when it is gearing up for major investments under the Special Economic Zone. Suggestions are also heard that instead of sky bus, the present situation can improve to a great extent, by converting the city roads into four-lane, introducing strict traffic regulations and initiating legal action against those flouting traffic rules etc.
Though the Konkan Railway Corporation may not hesitate to take up the project, the unusual delay in release of funds, the high price of necessary equipment etc would definitely come in the way of the project.
In Bangalore, there is a proposal to hand over the sky bus project to the KUIDFC.
If at all the sky bus project is implemented in the city, it would definitely add to the beauty of the city. The Konkan Railway Corporation has already assured to undertake works upto a stretch of 10 kms in two yeras. The sky bus would travel at a speed of 70 km per hour without any problem of traffic jams etc.
But prior to the implementation of the project, there is a need for the study of the likely pressure on land in the city which falls under Earth Quake Zone 3. The Citizens’ Forum for Planned Development of Mangalore is also of the contention that developmental projects should be implemented in such a way that they do not prove hazardous.
What the city needs at the earliest is good roads and traffic regulations . The roads must be made motorable and strict traffic regulations should be enforced.This would go a long way in easing traffic congestion to a great extent, opine residents of Mangalore.

Congmen resent caste politics of Oscar, Sorake

From our Udupi office
UDUPI : It has been gathered of late that there is a growing resentment within the Congress over the caste politics resorted to by union minister Oscar Fernandes and former Udupi MP Vinaykumar Sorake.
Congressmen belonging to the Hindu community are sore over Ocar particularly because they argue that the union minister was unduly favouring his own minority community men who are given prominent postings in the party. They also complain that Hindu leaders are offended in the Congress.
As if to prove this contention, the Udupi District Congress president MA Gafur, DK DCC Chief Blasius D’Souza and Udupi District Mahila Congress president Veronica Carnelio, all belong to the religious minority communities.
There is no denying that caste politics had a role to play behind the appointment of Veronica and in this act, Oscar was duly backed by the former Udupi MP Vinaykumar Sorake.
This was amply proved with Veronica taking charge not in the District Congress Office but in Sorake’s office.
Today many Congressmen are having a doubt if at all Sorake who while being MP had resorted to caste politics was now holding a darbar in the Mahila Congress.
Objections are also being raised over his action of holding meets that ought to be held in the District Congress office, in his office.

DK anti-rowdy squad keeping track of anti-social elements

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : Close on the heels of the murder of the blackmail journalist and dreaded ciminal Hitendra Prasad in Manipal, the Dakshina Kannada District Anti-Rowdy Squad, as a precautionary measure, has kept an eye on all rowdy elements in the district.
Already, the Anti-Rowdy Squad led by its inspector Vinay Gaonkar has begun summoning rowdyhseeters to the station, in order to avert any possible gang war.
Police have also begun keeping a track of all the activities of the rowdy elements.
In fact, gang war had virtually ended in the city with the murder of rowdy Kiran by the Chetu gang a few years ago. Though later on attempts were made to give a similar colour to MD Jabbar and Polali Ananthu murders, they were not successful.
As at present,the Emmekere Salaam, Ekkur Baba, Barke and Yaddu gangs have virually cooled down.
It is now being said that the Anti-Rowdy Squad chief Vinay Gaonkar and the Ullal circle inspector Jayanth Shetty have proved a nightmare to these rowdy elements who are virtually irked by the frequent visits to the stations and also fear that they may be blamed for any murder that may take place anywhere.

City needs peak hour spl public transport system

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : In the backdrop of the city and rural service buses operating in and around the city remaining overcrowded during peak hours in mornings and evenings, presently a demand is heard from some corners to introduce special bus services during peak hours.
Particularly with the Special Economic Zone on cards in the city and various multi-storied complexes and other business and commercial establishments coming up in the city, presently a need has arisen for a much more efficient public transport system.
There is no denying the fact that the existing city and rural service buses have lagged behind in providing efficient services and meeting the expectations of the people. Today, there are instances when a city bus of a capacity of just 45 passengers is loaded with as much as 125 people. The situation can very well be imagined.
For that matter, this problem is not distinct to the city of Mangalore alone. The same is the situation in various other cities of the state. The peak hours can be classified as from 8 am to 10 am and 4 pm to 6 pm and it is during this time that most of the buses are overcrowded.
While the system of special trasnprot facilities during peak hours has turned out to be successful in Bangalore, the same has not met with success in our city of mangalore. In a way it can be said no pain was taken to implement the system at all.
But there is no denying the fact that the private bus services or van services introduced by private educational institutions for thier students, has to some extent reduced the congestion in city buses. While road tax to the tune of less than Rs 1000 is collected from such omni buses, the private city buses are levied ten times more the tax.
Though a few bus operators have shown interest in running special buses during peak hours, their wish could not be materialsied due to high taxes. The Canara Bus Operators’ Association too is interested in such a new system on the Maharashtra lines. The Association has even conducted a study in this direction. The Association feels such a system was highly beneficial provided the government reduces the taxes levied on buses.
On an average 2.5 lakh people travel every day in the around 2200 private buses in Udupi and Mangalore and on an average 120 passengers travel in each bus.
The need of the hour is for the RTO to make up its mind in this direction. Even the transport commissioner and the deputy commissioner who is the RTO chairman, can give a serious thought towards this direction as such a step if initiated would surely lead to an orderly public transport system, in both the districts of Dakshina Kannada nad Udupi.

Builders encroach footpath on Kalakunj road

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The builders of a multi-storied construction coming up on the PVS Kalakunj road in the city are found to have encroached the nearby footpath, much to the inconvenience of the passersby. It has been found that the builders have dumped the construction materials right on the footpath leaving no space for the pedestrians who are forced to step on to the road itself.
Even the complaint lodged by the locals with the corporation authorities have proved futile making it ample clear that there was some secret adjustment between thse builders and the corporation officials.
Moreover, this particular road is quite busy with schools and other educational institutions located in the vicinity, and students passing through this road have to face much problem.
What can we say about the unique style of functioning of our city corporation which keeps its eyes closed when it comes to matters pertaining to violation of rules by the influential and instead does not hesitate to initiate action against the poor?

Anti-Nagarjuna activists plan black flag demo against VSA

From our Udupi office
UDUPI : The Anti-Nagarjuna Project Committee, at its meeting held here recently, has decided to stage black flag demonstrations against the Udupi district minister VS Acharya who is hell bent upon backing the Nagarjuna themral power plant, despite massive protests against the same.
It was also decided to initiate a letters campaign against the project, to the chief minister and it has been planned to send nearly 25,000 letters from both the districts.
It was further resolved to convene a public meeting in the first week of September to give an opportunity to the different political parties to make their stand clear on the project.
The meeting held recently under the presidentship of Damodar Aithal, Convenor of the Forum, was attended among others by Lakshman Shetty, President of the Nandikur Jana Jagrithi Samithi, Rajeev Salian of Nagarika Seva Trust and Gangadhar Suvarna of Udupi District Fishermen’s Cooperative Federation.

Consumers’ Board comes into being in city

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : A consumers’ board has been formed in the city recently under the aegis of various organisations including Consumers’ Forum , Mangalore and Moodbidri, Federation of consumer organisations of DK District and Consumers’ Awareness Forum of Kinnigoli.
Padmanabha Shetty Niddodi is the president of this new organisation, while Ivan Pais, Ganga Prakash, Jyothi, Dinesh Bhandarkar and MJ Salian are its vice president, secretary, joint secretary, treasurer and honorary presidentrespectively.
The main objective of the Board is to secure justice to the consumers who knowingly or unknowingly get cheated.
Already, it has received nearly 13 petitions seeking justice and most of the petitioners are those cheated by the Manipal Finance’s Soubhagya Nidhi.
Those interested can contact Consumers’ Board, Sahyog Complex, Alake, Mangalore . Ph 4254539.

Cleanliness workers toiling under pathetic conditions

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : There are hundreds of poor men and women who work as waste disposal labourers under the contractors within the the city corporation limits. But, the plight of these labourers who work under abject pitiable conditions, is heartening.
They work sans raincoat, rain shoes, gloves etc. The contractors who have the responsibility of providing these facilities to the labourers, have however shunned from their repsonsibilites. The result -these poor labourers, clear the garbage bins as well as the wastes scattered around and dump the same in the vehicles, least bothered about the drastic consequences to their health, owing exposure to the wastes which sometimes turn toxic.
The labourers have to bear the unbearable stench and the filth and remove them with some broom sometimes even by hands sans handgloves . Though rules make these facilities mandatory, the poor workers are deprived of the same as the contractors aremainly interested in filling their own pockets rather than the safety of the labourers.
It is a tragedy is that the sad plight of these labourers has not even caught the attention of the corporation officials or rather they have preferred to turn a blind eye to the same. At the same time there remains a doubt if the officials have entered into a nexus with the contractors. The city corporation must keep its eyes wide open to the pitiable condition of the cleanliness workers and see that the contractors provide them the facilities due to them.

Hitendra Prasad murdered: 5 arrested

From our Udupi office
UDUPI : It was an expected end to the life of a dreaded and notorious criminal who was also a blackmail journalist. Hitendra Prasad, an anti-social element in the guise of a journalist, was brutally butchered by a gang of assailants outside the Tallur’s Live Band at Manipal on the night of August 21. He was a man notorious for several of his misdeeds including hafta collection and rowdyism. He was also running a fortnightly named ‘Hai Marutha’ which only resorted to blackmail journalism.
Police have so far arrested five persons in connection with tthe murder, including Pitti Nagesh, the prime accused, who is also a dreaded criminal of the locality.
Hitendra was murdered when he had been to the Tallur’s live band that night to demand a hafta of Rs 3 lakh from its owner, along with Deviprasad Shetty, the Udupi district president of the JD(S). In fact both were notorious for threatening and demanding hafta from those indulging in illegal activities including operators of live bands in Udupi.
Reports say Hitendra used to receive mamool regularly from the various live bands in the town except from the newly opened Tallur’s Live Band at Manipal. It’s management, it is learnt had failed to budge to his demands. Though its owner Rohit Kumar Kateel also a past international athlete had given Rs 50,000 to Hitendra in one instalment, he had refused to pay the monthly mamool. Along with Hitendra, even Deviprasad Shetty, is said to have placed forth a demand for Rs 3 lakh and had barged into the live band with his group of loyalists that night to threaten the owner. It is said it was Shetty himself who had asked Hitendra to be present there that night. However, the fracas culminated in the murder of Hitendra Prasad.
It has now been gathered that the family of Hitendra has decided against publishing the ‘Hai Marutha’ periodical of Hitendra. Already, 23 cases are pending settlement against the periodical
In the meantime, it has also been learnt that apart from live bands, Hitendra was also receiving mamool from the matka lords, illegal liquor traders, those indulging in flesh trade etc. Sources say he used to collect the mamool after threatening the illegal traders in the name of his periodical. Hitendra was married just a year ago to a certain Shobhitha of Puttur.
Hitendra’s pistol missing
Reports now say that two foreign made pistols which were in Hitendra Prasad’s car were missing ever since the murder and as per the court permission, the Crime Investigation Bureau recently searched the residence of Hitendra in vain. However, the police team laid hands on computer equipment, obscene CDs, and some valuable records from his house. Reports say the police team also found a a cash of Rs 20 lakh apart from an insurance policy of Rs 10 lakh inside the cupboard. According to one source, the cash was handed over to Hitendra’s wife, by some of his friends, the very next day of his murder.
The arrested
Those arrested in connection with Hitendra’s murder are : Saleem (25) of Alevoor Manchikere, Mimmi alias Dinesh (28) of Indiranagar, Manikanta (23) of Kunjibettu Karamballi, and Ramesh (28) of Kolalagiri.They were arersted at the Indrali railway station when they were waiting for the train to flee to Mumbai. The prime accused Pitti Nagesh was arrested at Alevoor in Udupi later.
Pitti Nagesh has been produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody upto September 7. He is said to have divulged to the police that he finished off Hitendra as he (Hitendra) had attempted to kill him.
In the meantime police have decided to subject Nagesh to a lie detector test.
Interestingly, this very Nagesh was one time a right hand of Hitendra and was so close to him that he had personally distributed the invitation cards for Hitendra’s wedding and was in-charge of Hitendra’s security during the latter’s wedding. As is the unique tradition in the underworld, one time friends turn foes and even the killers of the other as in Hitendra’s case.
Hitendra who made good use of Pitti Nagesh at one time, later on turned up against him, when he backed Vinod Shettigar who was dead against Nagesh, with Shettigar and Nagesh’s gang also involving in frequent tussles. In fact, Shettigar was the killer of Manohar Master of Kukkikatte and had even seen to it that he was not fixed in any case. Nagesh who came to the conclusion that Shettigar would soon finish him with Hitendra’s backing, decided to eliminate Hitendra himself for his survival and was waiting for the right time along with his accomplices since some time. On that fateful night , when Hitendra had been to the Manipal live band to demand hafta and when an altercation followed between the live band owner and Hitendra, Pitti Nagesh and others got the chance to finish him off, thus bringing an end to the life of a notorious rowdy who was a bane on the society.

Bar boy arrested for raping school girl

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : In a shocking incident reported from Moorukaveri near Kinnigoli, a tenth standard girl studying in a local school was reportedly raped by a youth of the locality when the girl was returning home from school recently. The accused has been arrested and identifed as Naveen (20), working in a bar in Kinnigoli and also a relative of the victim.
It is learnt, he took the girl to an isolated house in the vicinity after saying he had to speak to her and then outraged her modesty.
The complaint was lodged after the girl divulged the matter to her mother. The police arrested the youth at the Kinnigoli bus stand, when he tried to flee on seeing them.

Cong leader murdered in Belthangady

BELTHANGADY : Vidyadhar Jain (32), Rayi Gram Panchayat member in Bantwal taluk, was brutally hacked to death by a gang of assailants at Padangadi near Guruvauyanakere recently, reportedly over a previous enmity.
Jain, an active Congress worker, was on his way to Padangadi from Guruvayanakere in his bike along with his friend Iqbal, when the gang abused him and then wielded weapons at him. Though both abandoned their bike and fled, the gang chased them. Iqbal however was successful in entering the house of a relative located nearby, but Vidyadhar fell victim to the assailants. Hailing from Venoor, Vidyadhar was residing in Rayi since the past four years and had identified himself with one faction of the Congress.
Police records now reveal that even he was a rowdy with ten cases pending against him in various police stations including Venoor, Bantwal town and rural stations and Bajpe stations. He was married just four years ago and was the father of a two year old child.
Reports indicate that Vidyadhar had identified himself with the Saiprasad Alva faction in Padangadi, which was dead against another faction led by Hrishikesh Jain. It has been gathered that the Hrishikesh Jain faction finished him off on gathering information that Alva faction was hatching a conspiracy to murder Hrishikesh Jain.
Police are in search of the accused who have been identified as Pradeep, Sunil, Hitesh, Prashanth, Satish, Hrishikesh and Anil.

Dist Cong-a broken home

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The simmering differences between the District Congress President Blasius M D’Souza and the DCC in-charge B Ramanatha Rai have surfaced this time more seriously.
It all began at a party workers’ meeting convened at the Balmatta Shanti Nilaya in the city recently. The meeting witnessed uproarious scenes with the Ramanatha Rai faction seeming all set to go on rampage just as the DCC chief was delivering his welcome address. Interestingly all the dramatic scenes took pace right in the presence of the KPCC chief Mallikarjun Kharge.
Even as Blasius was delivering the welcome address, mentioning the names of one leader after the other, the Rai loyalists on noticing that Blasius had deliberately omitted the name of their leader, began shouting slogans. They were unwilling to budge even when Rai stepped down the dais and tried to pacify them.
Blasius too intervened to say that he was supposed to have read the names of all leaders and that such disturbances would not help. However, when the turmoil did not subside, Kharge asked those not interested to walk out, bringing the situation under control to some extent.
It has been gathered that following the meeting, Rai and his bandwagon, met Kharge and tried to give an explanation for their behaviour. They are learnt to have complained that Blasius had offended Rai.
Some other leaders later even complained to Kharge and Chandregowda against Rai faction, saying it was anti-Christian.
Even as this incident was afresh in public minds, the Rai faction of the Congress, had staged a demonstration in front of the deputy commissioner’s office in the city against the state government. Even this protest kicked off a controversy, when the very next day the DCC chief convened a press meet to say that disciplinary action would be initiated against Rai for staging a protest without taking the District Congress Committee into confidence.
Blasius in the press meet even went on to say that there was no post like DCC in-charge in the party constitution and contended that it was Rai himself who had proclaimed himself as the DCC in-charge. He even said that he had come to know of the protest only through the newspapers.
In fact the very same Blasius and Rai were rubbing shoulders with each other a few years ago and have turned into staunch political rivals. Then both who had identified themselves with the Moily camp left no chance of making a mockery of Janardhan Poojari.
But everything changed no sooner Poojari became the KPCC chief and Rai soon jumped to the Poojari faction with Poojari even making him the DCC in-charge, a post until then unheard of in the Congress history.
Rai reigned supreme in the district Congress as its in-charge and tried to curb Blasius whenever and wherever possible. Blasius who had silently endured the insults all these years, has now all of a sudden decided to open his mouth much to everyone’s surprise.
But it was this very Blasius, who when there was a row over the presidents of Kadaba and Panemangalore block Congress, appointed Meer Saheb and Padmanabha Rai as the in-charge presidents of the two blocks respectively.
Who’s in whose group?
Blasius’s ire against Rai has been duly justified by his bandwagon which includes DCC vice presidents Sadananda Poonja, Tejomaya, Youth Congress president Bondala Jagannath Shetty, Mahila Congress President Kalavathi, Tejaswiraj of Student Congress, Suresh Shetty of Seva Dal, corporators Mahabala Marla, Naveen D’Souza and former mayors Purandardas Kulur and Diwaker.
As at the outset, however the Rai bandwagon has more loaylists when taken into consideration the number of participants in the Rai sponsored protest recently. Former MP Vinay Kumar Sorake, legislator Abhayachandra Jain, former Rajya Sabha member B Ibrahim, former legislator Vijaykumar Shetty, mayor K Ashraf, deputy mayor Indira, ZP chief Mamatha Gatti, District Congress vice president Ivan D’Souza, minorities’ cell chief UK Monu, KPCC spokepserson Harikrishna Bantwal, former chairman of Cashew Development Corporation Kallige Taranth Shetty, former MUDA chairman Suresh Ballal, corporators Lancelot Pinto, Jecintha,Appi, Rehana Banu, Vanitha, Sarala, Bhasker, K Farooq, Kamalaksha Salian, Kamalaksha Kunder, Nafeesa Aboobakker and others had attended the protest meet.
Deshpande too backs Rai
Another former minister RV Deshpande too seems to be backing Rai as was evident from his statement during his recent visit to the city. Deshpande, while speaking to presspersons, defended Rai by saying “Congress is like one house. Sometimes, children choose their own path though their objectives are the same,” bringing smiles on the face of Rai seated next to him.
Moily abandons Blasius?
Has forrmer chief minister M Veerappa Moily, said to be a confidante of DCC chief Blasius D’Siuza, abandoned the latter, in times of his distress?
This question has naturally arisen with Moily remaining silent even when the DCC in-charge Ramanatha Rai has begun to underplay Blasisu.
Blasius supporters are really worried over Moily’s silence even after Rai who at one time was identified with his faction, and now in Poojari faction,came up against Blasius right in the presence of KPCC chief. Blasius loyalists are also complaining that Moily who made use of Blasius whenever he wanted to attack Poojari, now has not even bothered to enquire about the issue.
They even ridicule saying all this is petty issue for Moily who is busy in national politics.
Many Congressmen who were earlier in the Moily faction, later on drifted towards Poojari and it remains no secret that some among them even tried to form a third force .
Considering the political developments, it seems the day is not far off when the Moily-Poojari factions in the DCC would be replaced by the Blasius-Rai faction.

Disposal of plastic wastes remain perennial problem

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : There was a time when the anti-plastic usage campaign was in full swing in the city of Mangalore. Now, everything has come to a stand still. The drive to minimise the use of plastics, particulary plastic bags, has not achieved the desired results as is evident from the near no reduction in the usage of plastic bags.
Today, it is very much common to see plastic wastss on road sides, in garbage bins and in drains. Mainly we see a plastic bag in the hands of almost every passerby.
Plastic bags have today virtually replaced handbags made from other materials. One reason for this is the absence of an alternate to these plastic bags.
Today, free flow of water in side drains has been mainly affected due to the plastic wastes dumped by some unmindful citizens. These plastic wastes turn toxic and those which remain undisposed for long also affect trees and plants. There have been instances when some plants have died due to the toxic wastes while others have failed to give yield.
Even some cattle gobble up plastic wastes in the garbage bins only to meet death or face health problem. The main resaon for the problem is that plastic is non-bio-degradable.
The crux of the problem is that plastic is available cheaply and so is also discarded carelessly. According to one report, nearly half a tonne of plastic is sold in the central market in the city everyday.Two plastic manufacturing units at Baikampady and two sales outlets in the city, on an average sell 10 tonnes of plastic bags to the market. This is enough to prove the extent to which plastic is used.
Probably, the usage of plastic bags may be reduced if the shopkeepers hang up a board asking customers to bring their own handbags. But, the traders on the other hand have the fear that their business may be affected if they fail to pack and give the products to the customers.
According to a few experts, the uasage of plastics can be minimised only if the government restricts the use of the same or else imposes a ban on its use.
In agriculture and waste management, these plastic wastes pose a major problem furthermore necessitating restrictive use of cheap plastic bags.

Mahadevu gang in action near Ladygoschen?

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : If reports are to be believed, a gang led by a certain Mahadevu, or in other words the Mahadevu gang was in action near the Ladygoschen area in the city which has turned out to be a haven for criminal and anti-social elements. Sources indicate that the gang is engaged in pickpocketing and flesh trade.
Reliable sources have even divulged that nearly six to seven members of this gang who operate from near the tempo park near the Ladygoschen Hospital, was involved in the burglary of some shops in the city. In fact two persons who were caught red handed while plotting robbery in a book stall at Hampankatta in the wee hours recently, had even threatened the public saying ‘Do you know we belong to the Mahadevanna gang ?’ and escaped.
Residents of the vicinity also say in exact terms that it was this gang which was very much behind the recent incident of attempt to break open the locks of a donation box near the State Bank, theft in a petty shop near fish market and another vain burglary attempt in a shop near central market.
Who is this Mahadevu?
There are a few near the Ladygoschen Tempo Park who know about this Mahadevu. Even some who have been cheated by this man , can explain to you his facial features. It has been reveealed that a certain Raja who can often be spotted near the petty shop near the tempo park, was Mahadevu’s informer and it was through his mobile phone that all information is passed on to Mahadevu.
Reports say this Mahadevu who hails from Madana Masoora Kenchamma Attinahalli in Hirekarur taluk of Haveri district, is presently residing in the Bunder area. It is being said that this man who was earlier the broker for several fraudulent marriages, was now the don of pickpockets.
Sources close to Mahadevu have divulged that some members of his gang have accounts in some bank branches in the city and that he had some time back pledged gold weighing a kilogram in bank.
It has also been gathered that Mahadevu had even suffered a major setback three years ago, when he had tried to get married a maid in the residence of the then ASI of Puttur, to an already thrice married man. Today, it is said that there are several in the city who provide security to this fraud.
In another case, Mahadevu had kept an artiste in the Nandikeshwara Nataka Sangha, along with the latter’s wife, in his own house and after getting some job for the artiste, had used the woman for flesh trade. Though the artiste had created furore over the issue three months ago, he could not do much and the case was not taken up to the police station.
Mahadevu who is a good hand in taking to his fold people who come to the city in search of odd jobs as well as vagabonds, may turn out to be a great don in the future. Here it cannot be forgotten that the history of dreaded rowdies, begin in a small manner. By the by while several members of Mahadevu gang give hafta to their informer Raja, Mahadevu himself has gone ahead to provide mamool to some officials in government departments. It is a surprise that the police department has not bothered much about this gang operating in the heart of the city.

Karkala lad designs, manufactures mini copter

By Diwaker Kumar
KARKALA : What can a mere PUC qualified youth whose thirst for knowledge particularly engineering knowledge which forced him sit before the internet for hours and hours together, achieve ?
Just anything. And this has been proved by this young man from Karkala. He is Ratnaker Naik who today is the proud owner of a mini helicopter designed and manufactured solely by him.
Today, the achievement of this youth is in no way less than the achievement of any engineering student who toils day and night in his college to gain knowledge through theory and practice.
But in case of Ratnaker, his tremendous will power and determination to achievesomething, has today borne furit in the form of this remote controlled helicopter. A great achievement by a youth sans technical background, godfathers and guidance.
August 15 was a memorable day in the life of Ratnaker when his prized possession sprang a surprise for many who had gathered for the I-Day celebrations at the Karkala Gandhi Maidan, when the mini helicopter which rose from the ground even as the guests looked on , showered flowers on the national tri-colour. Later after taking a round of the maidan, it landed at the maidan.
Ratnaker Naik, son of Obayya Naik of Meeyar in Karkala taluk, has studied upto PUC only. The youth belonging to scheduled tribe though had interest in pursuing higher education, could not do so for some reason.
Ratnaker who had a great inclination towards technology since childhood, has now manufactured a helicopter of his own, a product of his four long years of toil.
Ratnaker Says he had nurtured a great wish of making toys on his own, whenever he saw little childern play with them. His wish furthermore gained wings after he watched several programmes on Discovery Channel. Along with it, the internet world exposed Ratnaker to several technical aspects, Everyday, he says he used to spend at lest five hours before internet to study technical related aspects and has now spent nearly Rs 1.5 lakh to manufacture his copter.
Ratnaker who moulded the copter body with fibre, has designed his model aircraft no less than any real helicopter.
The two fans were purchsaed originally from the market and also the engine and other spare parts. The remote was got from the US through an acquaintance of his there.
The four feet long and two feet tall copter weighs 3.5 kgs and after several trials the copter first came to public eyes on Independence Day.
Ratnaker says the fuel used for the copter is Methanol, castor oil and nitro methane. Though the copter can fly upto any height, I fly it only upto that height where I can have a view of it it as otherwise there is a chance of accident, he says.
Ratnaker however does not forget to mention the name of his friend Vikram, who stood as his backbone all these years.
Young Ratnaker’s achievement has already been appreciated by Air Vice Marshal Ramesh Karnik and MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik.
Ratnaker who is employed in a private firm, aims at exhibiting his helicopter in various schools of the district and has also written to the HAL in Bangalore seeking an opportunity to exhibit the helicopter.
Young talents like Ratnaker need proper exposure and encouragement by our government and elected representatives and this would definitely pave way for more innovations from them.

Devaragudda near Polali attracting attention

Ancient Shivalinga traced

• By CT reporter
  MANGALORE : A place called Devaragudde near Polali, the famous pilgrim shrine of the district where is located the Sri Rajarajeshwari Temple, is today a centre of attraction particularly after the tracing of an ancient Shivalinga and an inscription in the area two months ago.
  Even the belief of the locals that the newly traced Shivalinga was the one which grows in size with the passing of each year, has further added to the attraction with large number of devotees thronging the area in the recent past. Even a Swamiji is presently camping in the area and committees are also being formed to develop this temple.
  History of the Polali Rajarajeshwari Temple says that there were ten temples of Lord Eshwar in and around the temple. Already, there is the Akhileshwara Temple and now the tracing of the Devaragudde temple, has been the latest addition.
  Devaragudde is located 1.5 km away from Polali and here are seen remains of what might have been a lake in the past. Moreover, wherever dug in ths area, some materials, be it ancient bricks or portions of broken stone idols are found and this place has now turned out to be an ideal spot for historians and archaeologists.
  The ancient Shivalinga that was traced recently, is of white stone and unique as is the idol of the Goddess at the Polali Kshetra which is clay made.
  The Devaragudda Temple, it is believed has a history of over 400 years and some even contend that it was destroyed during the attack of the Moghuls.
  Presently, it is also believed that an Eshwara Temple too might have existed in the past at Ammunje area nera Polali.
  There are chances of Polali which is already a famous pilgrim spot, developing into a major one, if all the ten temples said to have existed here, surrounding the main temple, are traced.

A surprise wedding

MANGALORE : This is no filmy style wedding but real lie wedding wherein a stranger comes foward to tie the nuptial knot to a young lady who is totally shaken after the groom is missing on the wedding day. Sabeena, daughter of painter Mohammad of Indiranagar in Haleyangady was supposed to marry Haneef, son of Habijan of Moodigere at the mass marriage ceremony that was held at the Haleema Sabji auditorium at Udupi recently. A dowry of Rs 30,000 had also been given to Haneef well ahead of the marriage.
But the bride’s party gathered information on the wedding day that the groom was not in town and that he was a cheat as he was an already married man with two wives. It even came to light that a woman of Haleyangady had brokered the marriage despite being aware of Haneef’s past history.
The family of Sabeena was totally lost . But there came a good samaritan in the form of Hameed, a youth of the locality who eked out a living selling fish. His heart ached for Sabeena and with due consent of his family and the girl’s side, tied the nuptial knot to Sabeena the same evening at the Haleyangady masjid. The youth’s act of giving a new lease of life to a young girl whose dreams were totally shattered, has been widely appreciated by one and all in the town.

Political ploy to shunt inspector Jayanth Shetty from Ullal?

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : Afew leaders of a particular political party were reportedly making a discreet attempt to transfer the Ullal inspector Jayanth Shetty. It may be mentioned here that Shetty is an able police officer who had sent shivers down the spines of criminal elements when he served as the chief of the District Anti-Rowdy Squad some time back. He had even served in North Kanara district.
Following the change of government in the state some time back, Shetty was posted at Ullal, a communally sensitive area, where Muslims are in majority.
It now remains no secret that it was district minister Nagaraj Shetty who was instrumental in bringing Shetty to Ullal, with the support of RSS leader Kalladka Prabhaker Bhat more so because he did not want the Ullal legislator, a Congressmen to have his way in this direction.
But, Shetty’s position in Ullal is not approved of by leaders of another political party who are now moving heaven and earth to shunt him. Though even Jayanth Shetty is aware of this aspect, he has not bothered much about it.
Even a political party is trying to gain undue advantage of a recent incident where police reportedly committed atrocities on a drugs peddler.

Teacher turns cheat!

VITTAL : In a queer incident reported from Vittal, a physical instructor of a school in Bolantur, who had inducted a fake player in his school’s Kabaddi team, just to win the prize, however had to quit the tournament when the cheating came to light.
The Vittal zonal level kabaddi tourney held at the Kodapadavu Government Primary School was participated by eight teams including the team from the Bolantur School. In fact, the Bolantur School had even reached the finals when physical instructors of other participant schools grew suspicious over one of the members of the Bolantur School team. On enquiry, it came to light that the suspected member was actually not the student of the school, but was an outsider who was inducted into the school team in the name of a student Shafeeque. This made it clear that the physical instructor had flouted the rule with the sole intention of helping his school win the prize.
Finding no other way, the offended team had to quit the tourney with the accused teacher Harish suffering great insult as expected. However, this incident has caused much concern among the parents who now question to in what way suuch teachers could mould the personality of the students.

All for the slaughter house

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : It has been reliably gathered that funds are being raised by some forces in the city, to be offered as bribe money to some authorities with an intention of seeing to it that the slaughter house at Kudroli which is presently closed, is reopened.
Sources say some forces have collected funds ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 from mutton traders in the city and outskirts.
A person from Sagar, said to be a confidante of the chief minister, is presently camping at Mangalore and is collecting the funds from the traders.
It is not known whether the chief minister is aware of this, but it is sure that the funds are collected in the name of the chief minister saying some people have to be bribed in case the slaughter house was to be opened.
While some traders have already succumbed to pressure and handed over the amount, some others have decided to wait and watch.
It is now left to be seen to what extent this latest attempt to reopen the sole authorised slaughter house of the district, would prove fruitful.

Crime cases go unresolved in city

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : While the rising crime graph in Dakshina Kannada district is a matter of great concern, an equally concerning aspect is the fact that the police investigation into most of these cases fail to make much headway.
The police who seem to be agile no sooner a crime is reported, slowly forget the episode as a thing of the past without bothering to close in on the accused.
One instance is the theft that took place in the residence of Akashavani artiste Sainath at Ekkur in the outskirts of the city about four months ago. Let alone arresting anyone, the police have so far not even gathered any clue about the thieves.
In this case, the thieves who were masked, after forcibly snatching the keys from the inmates of the house, had decamped with jewellery worth Rs 1.67 lakh, a cash of Rs 6000 and three mobile sets.
In another case, an autorickshaw driver accompanied by another person had robbed a lady passenger of her gold ornaments worth Rs 1.45 lakh that too in the heart of the city.
One Gulshan (40) of Kotekar who had hired an autorickshaw from Hampankatta to New Chitra junction, on an afternoon, was harassed by the autorickshaw driver by taking the wrong deviation and moving towards the St Agnes College area where another person joined him and the two took the auto to a deserted place and looted the lady of her jewels.
In another case of theft, valuables worth Rs 3.5 lakh and cash of Rs 40,000 were stolen from the residence of one Jaikishan of Ullal Mastikatte recently.
These apart, several more theft cases have been reported from various parts of the district and when enquired, the answer by the police authorities is that the accused are at large or that the investigations are in progress.
Leave apart the theft cases, even in some murder cases like the murder of a solider in a train, the murder of a ragpicker woman and the murder of Divayrani in the city, the killers are still at large with the cops failing to apprehend them. There also remains a doubt if the police are genuinely not interested in probing or are engaged in some other important case.
Whatever it is, it is for sure that in most of the cases, the cops prefer to be a bit too slow in investigating. At the same time, this cannot be generalised as there are instances when the cops have nabbed the accused in some murder case or some serious criminal cases, in a matter of no time, sometimes within 24 hours or a few days.
What is needed the most as of now, is for the district superintendent of police to issue clear cut instructions to his sub-ordinates to probe all cases with the same zeal and zest and arrest the accused and thereby win the confidence of the people.

Filthy drain water in Mannagudda contributes boils to locals

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : Reports of late are indicative of the fact that the filth water flowing in the open drain behind the Sanghaniketan building at Mannagudda area in the city, was posing serious health hazards to the residents of the locality.
According to the residents,waste water from some area is let into this drain through a four inch diameter pipe and the pollution caused by the filth has in turn led to the formation of boils in the bodies of residents of the area.
They say medical examinations had proved that it was due to the hazardous waste water flowing in the drain.
Locals say though as per rules the waste water let from the particular pipe should be let into underground drainage, here the same is let into the open drain by evading the eyes of the authorities.
Locals also say the MCC authorities too are unaware as to the source of the pipe and complain that their appeals to save them of the problem, have gone unheard.
The neglect of the MCC authorities has now forced the locals to endure with the health problem.
The red boils that appear in the beginning, grow in size as the days pass by, loclas say and many of them have already changed house, while those having no other go have preferred to stay there itself.
Locals are now demanding the MCC authorities to initiate action against those responsible for this problem.

Contractor among 2 held for theft of bitumen

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : Police recently arrested two persons including a prominent contractor in connection with the theft of bitumen worth Rs 61.66 lakh from MRPL near Suratkal.
The arersted are Balachandra Kamath (46), contractor and Ramakrishna Shenoy, a resident of near Navabharath circle, Kodialbail. Police have also taken into custody another person named Roshan Martis for interrogation.
Investigations have already revealed that as many as six transport companies were involved in the theft racket and that lorries bearing registration numbers KA 05 A 5272, KA 21 1764, KA 02 A1001, KA 19 AC 8235, KA 19 B 2352, KA 19 B 2995 and KA 19, 6096 were used for the illegal transportation. During the period between December 5 and March 31, 2005, about 2100 drums of bitumen were stolen from the bitumen unit of MRPL.The theft came to light when the bitumen unit accounts showed a difference to the tune of Rs 61.66 lakh.
It also came to light that nearly seven lorries had been loaded without proper invoice. While bills toward 200 barrels were made with respect to other transporters, in connection with Kamath, bills were made only for 20 to 30 barrels. This revelation followed an internal interrogation of several officers by the MRPL authorities. Bail plea rejected : In the meantime, the First Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in the city has rejected the bail petition filed by the two accused Kamath and Shenoy. The accused Balachandra Kamath is also the trustee of Carstreet Sri Venkatramana Temple.

Traditional doc kills trespassing calf

VITTAL : In what could be termed as a barbaric act, a well-known traditional medical practitioner of Vittal Padnur, beat an innocent calf of his neighbour to death for the sole reason that the calf had trespassed into his compound.
Reports say the traditional medical practitioner Venkappa Naika and his children Monappa and Narayan are the culprits in this case.
The one and a half year old male calf belonged to KA Mohammad, a neighbour of the doctor. When the calf which was let for grazing, had for the first time entered Naika’s compound, he had warned its owner against the trespassing of the calf and had also threatened to kill it if the incident repeated.
Again the next day, the calf was missing and on a serach it was found dead in a drain near the residence of Venkappa with blood oozing out of its mouth.
Aboobakker says when enquired Venkappa divulged that his son caned the calf resulting in its death.
A complaint has been lodged against Venkappa and his sons for killing the calf.

Remand Home inmates tortured?

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : Are the inmates of the remand home at Vamanjoor in the outskirts of the city much tortured by the staff there ? The answer to this question can very well be given in the affirmative with four girls from the remand home missing recently. It is now being said theat the girls were virtually starved forcing them to escape.
Those missing are Sona and Lalitha, aged above 18 and Salma and Pavitra (14).
It has now been gathered that the young girls were subject to much punishment and harassment in various ways in the remand home.
Some of the punishment modes include caning, making them stand on one leg etc.
Residents of the vicinity say they often hear the girls cry and scream during day and night.
Presently one Kamala who was earlier a sweeper here has been made warden and she, it is learnt, used to vent her anger over her work pressure and personal problems with the girls.
Even the superintendent Pushpalatha and matron Hemavathi were said to be rude with the inmates.
Locals say it was common to see heart-rending scenes inside the remand home campus almost quite often.
It is a tragedy that the child welfare officer, and other higher authorities have not taken any serious note of this harassment of young girls in the remand home.