Call for zameen wapsi' amidst multi-crore illegal dealings in land acquisition

executive@coastaldigest.com (CD Network)
April 20, 2016

Mangaluru, Apr 20: A group of social activists has demanded the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to immediately intervene and stop the illegal transfer of 147.384 acres of land by M/s Aspen Infrastructure Ltd (SEZ) to a third party and return all vacant lands as Zameen Wapsi' to the original owners of the lands before it was acquired for M/s Suzlon Infrastructure for the production of wind mill in Nadsal, Hejamady, Nandikoor and Palimaru villages of Udupi taluk.

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Addressing the Press in the city today, Lolaksha, Working President of Suzlon R&R Colony Abhivruddhi Samithi, said that KIADB authorities had given 641.915 acres of land to M/s. Suzlon Infrastructure Limited for the production of wind mill in those villages. But the company has not even utilised 100 acres of land in the SEZ area till date as it was not at all required to the company for the purpose it was acquired. The development commissioner of SEZs officially disclosed that 282.79 acres of land is still kept vacant in the processing area of the SEZ, he stated.

The KIADB and Revenue Department officials along with Suzlon management played mischief and allotted the land to the company much more than that of their actual requirement at a through away price by acquiring the lands in these four villages under Karnataka Industrial Area Development Act, 1966 by betraying the interests of the poor people of the area. It's a multi crore scandalous land deal involving high level officials and a business house, he alleged and demanded a CBI or COD investigation into this transfer of property to M/s Suzlon.

Contrary to the belief, hopes and desire of the people who sacrificed everything for the betterment of the State; M/s. Suzlon Infrastructure Limited (SEZ) and the concerned authorities have betrayed them in all respects and within two years, on 07.05.2009, it has transferred this acquired property in the name of M/s. Synefra Engineering & Construction Ltd. And again 3plus years later, on 21.09.2012, these properties have been transferred in the name of M/s. Aspen Infrastructure Ltd. Now M/s aspen initiated to sell 147 acres to the third party for a huge sum! All this has been done with the help of the Govt authorities, he stated.

Lolaksha said that, the delegation of Suzlon R&R Colony Abhivruddhi Samithi met Addl Chief Secretary, Dept of Industry and Commerce, Govt of Karnataka, Ms Rathna Prabha and submitted a memorandum in this regard. She assured the delegation that the Government won't allow the company to sell the property to the third party and ordered for an enquiry. But so far the committee has not received any information in this regard from ACS he said.

Lolaksha demanded the Congress Govt in the State should immediately repealKarnataka Industrial Area Development Act, 1966, which is a draconian law or incorporate pro-people provisions, which were part of UPA Act of 2013 into the KIAD Act.

Vidya Dinakar, a social activist, demanded the govt should come out with white paper on land allotments to various SEZs in the state and its utilisation.

Shekar hejmady, Mysuru divisional convenor of Dalit Sangharsha Samithi, Umanatha KR, president of Suzlon R&R Colony Abhivruddhi Samithi and Udaya Shetty, District President of Manava Hakku Parishat were present.

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Comments

p.m.saleem razak
 - 
Thursday, 21 Apr 2016

very good move in the same.. in jokatte mangalore KIADB Acquired plenty of land in 1990 for Nagarjuna project but still no project is started and they are going to sell this land for others this is not acceptable, and the entire land should be given back to farmers immediately this KIADB is playing with poor farmers.

p.m.saleem razak
 - 
Thursday, 21 Apr 2016

yes very good move the above said KIADB also acquired plenty of land in jokatte mangalre for NAGARJUNNA PROJECT IN MANGALORE in 1990 but still now the prjoect not come in force, in the same way these jokatte mangalore farmers also get back their Accquired land at the earliest.

Jithu
 - 
Wednesday, 20 Apr 2016

Can Mangaloreans lead the Zameen Wapsi movement? If this campaign turns into a movement we can witness the birth of more kejriwals

Jalal
 - 
Wednesday, 20 Apr 2016

I lost my land for MRPL a decade ago. Can i get it back ??? Now i can sell the same land for crores :p

Deepak
 - 
Wednesday, 20 Apr 2016

Yes let us raise voice for Zameen Wapsi, not only in coastal Karnataka, but throughout India and not only from SEZ but from all tycoons to the farmers.

Nidhi
 - 
Wednesday, 20 Apr 2016

A massive movement to pressurise the govt to repeal the draconian KIAD Act is need of the hour.

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News Network
April 29,2025

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Newcastle (Washington) / Mysuru: In a deeply disturbing incident that has shocked both the tech world and local communities in India and the U.S., a Mysuru-based entrepreneur allegedly shot and killed his wife and one of their sons before turning the gun on himself at their residence in Newcastle, Washington. 

The couple’s younger son, aged seven, survived, having stepped out of the house shortly before the tragedy unfolded.

The accused, Harsha Kikkeri (57)—also known as Harshavardhan—was the founder and CEO of HoloWorld, a Mysuru-based robotics company. His wife Shwetha and one of their sons were found dead at the scene along with Harsha, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO). Authorities responded to a 911 call at a townhouse in the 7000 block of 129th Street on Thursday night (U.S. time). Upon arrival, deputies found three bodies and confirmed that the scene posed no further threat to public safety.

While investigators are treating it as a murder-suicide, the exact motive remains unknown. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office has yet to release the names or ages of the deceased children. The case remains under active investigation.

A Life of Innovation and Ambition

Hailing from Kikkeri village in Karnataka’s Mandya district, Harsha was an engineering graduate from Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering (SJCE), Mysuru. He went on to work with Microsoft in the United States, where he was involved in cutting-edge robotics development.

In 2017, Harsha and Shwetha returned to India and co-founded HoloWorld, a robotics startup that soon made headlines for its product HoloSuit—a bi-directional, wireless full-body motion capture suit. Touted as the world’s first of its kind at an affordable price, the suit was designed for applications across healthcare, sports, education, and skill development.

HoloWorld's products were exported to multiple countries, including the US, UK, and Israel. Indian cricket star Yuvraj Singh served as the brand ambassador. Harsha even met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss deploying robotic soldiers along India's borders. As a respected member of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) network, he frequently spoke at tech and innovation forums.

Despite his professional achievements, the recent tragedy has left many in the tech and entrepreneurial communities grappling for answers.

Community in Mourning

Neighbours in the Newcastle suburb described the family as kind, quiet, and largely private.

“We would exchange greetings. I often saw the mother walking her children to school—she was very warm,” said Alex Gumina, President of the local Homeowners Association.

Another neighbour recalled, “She was always smiling, and her younger son was especially affectionate. We’re devastated—this is unimaginable.”

Residents are planning a community gathering over the weekend to honor the family and support the surviving child.

Business Winds Down After Pandemic

HoloWorld’s corporate headquarters in India was located in Vijayanagar Third Stage, Mysuru, specifically housing its division HoloEducation. The company operated actively from 2018 until it scaled down in 2022 amid the pandemic. The premises have since remained vacant.

“I haven’t been in touch with them in years,” said the building owner. “They shut down during COVID, and I only heard about the tragedy yesterday.”

The incident has sent shockwaves through Mysuru’s business circles. Bhaskar Kalale, Chairman of EqualizeRCM India and President of TiE Mysuru Chapter, expressed deep condolences, calling the event “heartbreaking beyond words.”

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News Network
April 29,2025

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Mangaluru: Karnataka Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara has expressed concern over the mob lynching of an unidentified man in Mangaluru, in which several Hindutva activists have been arrested. The incident took place on April 27 near Bhatra Kallurti Temple in the Kudupu area on the outskirts of the city.

“Even if someone uttered offensive slogans, violence is not acceptable. The law must take its own course — taking matters into one’s own hands is completely wrong,” the Home Minister said, calling the act "deeply concerning."

He also urged the public to remain calm and avoid speculation. “We still don’t know if the victim was a local or from outside Karnataka. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace and communal harmony.”

What Happened

The incident occurred around 3 PM on Sunday, during a cricket tournament that involved ten teams and more than 100 players. The accused have reportedly told the police that the victim shouted "Pakistan Zindabad" — a claim now central to the investigation. A physical altercation began between the man and a local youth named Sachin (26), which quickly escalated into a violent group assault.

Eyewitnesses said while some bystanders tried to intervene, others in the crowd beat the man with sticks and kicked him repeatedly. The body was discovered near the temple later in the day, around 5:30 PM, prompting a police alert.

Post-Mortem Reveals Brutality

Initially, police did not observe major visible injuries and suspected a natural death. However, further investigation and a post-mortem at Wenlock District Hospital revealed that the man had died from internal bleeding and shock due to multiple blunt-force injuries, especially to the back, limbs, genitals, and buttocks. The injuries were consistent with an assault using wooden logs.

“This was a brutal and unprecedented case,” said Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal. “We have not seen anything of this nature in the city before. The victim received no medical attention, and that proved fatal.”

Arrests and Legal Action

As of now, 15 individuals — including Sachin — have been arrested, all from Kudupu, Neermarga, Vamanjoor, and surrounding areas. The First Information Report (FIR), filed by local resident Deepak Kumar (33), names 19 individuals, with police expecting the number of accused to grow as they analyze CCTV footage and mobile data.

Authorities estimate that around 25 people were involved in the lynching. Given the number of attackers, the case has been registered under Section 103(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which specifically addresses mob lynching. The section allows for life imprisonment or death penalty for those found guilty.

“Everyone involved will be brought to justice. We will apply the strictest legal provisions,” Commissioner Agarwal stated.

Motive Under Investigation

While some arrested individuals claim the lynching was triggered by the man shouting pro-Pakistan slogans, the authorities have not yet confirmed the authenticity or context of those claims. The identity of the victim remains unknown, and forensic teams are working to establish his background and possible connections to the local area.

Police have emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and urged the public to refrain from circulating misinformation or communal narratives.

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coastaldigest.com news network
April 24,2025

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In a significant leap toward sustainable urban mobility and coastal tourism, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has greenlit the ambitious Mangaluru Water Metro Project (MWMP). The approval was announced during a high-level Water Transport Board meeting held in Bengaluru, marking a milestone in the coastal city’s development roadmap.

Originally unveiled in the state budget earlier this year, the project takes inspiration from the acclaimed Kochi Water Metro and is designed to redefine water-based commuting and recreational transit in Mangaluru. The water metro will chart a 30-km course along the Gurupura and Netravathi rivers, offering both scenic journeys and practical connectivity for locals and tourists alike.

“The purpose of this project is to enhance tourism and recreation activities while also decongesting the city’s road traffic,” a senior officer from the Karnataka Maritime Board (KMB) stated. The KMB will lead preliminary studies and planning for MWMP implementation.

The proposed water route will interconnect 17 strategic locations, including:

•    Kulur Bridge

•    Bangrakulur

•    New Mangaluru Port

•    Sultan Battery

•    Tannir Bhavi

•    Old Port

•    Bengre

•    Hoige Bazaar

•    Ullal

•    Bolar Sea Face

•    Someshwar Temple … and more, covering densely populated, industrial, and tourist-friendly zones.

Planned as a green, affordable, and efficient public transport system, the Water Metro will deploy modern catamarans, with options for electric or low-emission diesel propulsion—positioning Mangaluru as a model for eco-conscious urban infrastructure in India.

With its blend of functionality and scenic charm, the MWMP is expected to not only transform the city’s transport landscape but also boost employment, local businesses, and regional tourism.

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