Hundreds rally for swift justice in sexual abuse of nursery kid; warn government

[email protected] (CD Network | Photos by Suresh)
March 20, 2015

Mangaluru, Mar 20: Demanding swift justice in the sexual abuse case of a three-and-half-year-old girl by a school van driver that took place in Thokkottu a week ago, hundreds of agitators staged a mass protest under the banner of Samyukta Muslim Jamaat, Dakshina Kannada, in front of the deputy commissioner’s office in the heart of the city on Friday.

Baby nirbhaya protest 20 1

Disappointed over the lack of swift response by the district administration in handling the case and failing to take action against Mangalore One School, which apparently tried to cover up the sexual abuse case, the protestors demanded police action against the school authorities.

Addressing the protestors, English lecturer and activist Pattabhirama Somayaji said that in view of the irresponsible conduct of the school where the girl was studying, the government should cancel the permit given to the management to run the school.

Baby nirbhaya protest 20 1

On behalf of the protestors, he demanded that the school management committee should tender an unconditional apology to the public for failing to show an interest in the welfare of the child and making attempts to cover up the sexual abuse. The district administration should take appropriate legal action against the school management and authorities, he urged.

Baby nirbhaya protest 20 1

President of Universal Welfare Forum Rafeeuddin Kudroli said that although the accused in the case of sexual abuse of the child had been arrested, no action had been taken against the school which was headed by a retired police officer. Meanwhile, there have been no reactions from the chief minister, home minister or the district in-charge minister in this serious issue. Even a week after the crime, the district in-charge minister has not visited the hospital or enquired about the child and her family, he said, accusing the state government of failing to protect its citizens.

baby nirbhaya

He said that if the same continued to take place, the so-called secular party which was currently non-existent in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, would lose its power even in Karnataka. Referring to the Sangh Parivar stopping students from going on a study tour and unleashing violence in Mudipu, he went on to claim that the communal forces were provided with police protection.

Baby nirbhaya protest 20 1

Editor of Sanmarga weekly A K Kukkila said that there should be a deliberation on the crimes occurring in the district to ensure than untoward and communal incidents ceased to take place. Much like the mob-lynching and subsequent death of an accused in a sexual assault case in Dimapur, Assam, the trend in Dakshina Kannada is shifting towards action taken by moral police on the basis of the identity of the perpetrators and not based on the nature of the crime involved. If this communal mindset is left unquestioned, there will be a rise in crimes in the district, he said.

President of Samyukta Muslim Jamaat, Dakshina Kannada Ashraf K made the introductory remarks and demanded swift justice to the family of the girl child and action against the school authorities.

Popular Front of India (PFI) leader Mohammed Haneef, Muslim Central Committee vice-president Hameed Kandak and member Ali Hasan, High court advocate Muzafar, Campus Front of India state general secretary Muhammed Thufail and several others were present during the protest.

Also Read: Sexual abuse of nursery student: Cops accused of violating POCSO Act

Baby nirbhaya protest 20 1

Baby nirbhaya protest 20 1

Baby nirbhaya protest 20 1

Baby nirbhaya protest 20 1

Baby nirbhaya protest 20 1

Baby nirbhaya protest 20 1

Baby nirbhaya protest 20 1

Baby nirbhaya protest 20 1

Baby nirbhaya protest 20 1

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
December 17,2024

modigowda.jpg

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday condoled the death of environmentalist Tulsi Gowda and said she will remain a guiding light for environmental conservation.

In a post on X, he said, "Deeply saddened by the passing of Tulsi Gowda Ji, a revered environmentalist from Karnataka and Padma Awardee. She dedicated her life to nurturing nature, planting thousands of saplings, and conserving our environment."

"She will remain a guiding light for environmental conservation. Her work will continue to inspire generations to protect our planet. Condolences to her family and admirers. Om Shanti," he added.

Tulsi Gowda, the renowned environmentalist and Padma Shri awardee known as the "Vruksha Maate" (Mother of Trees), passed away on Monday at her residence in Karnataka’s Honnali village, Ankola Taluk, Uttara Kannada district. She was 86 and had been suffering from age-related ailments.

Hailing from the Halakki tribal community, Tulsi Gowda dedicated over six decades of her life to environmental conservation, planting and nurturing thousands of trees in Ankola and its surroundings.

Her unparalleled knowledge of plants earned her the title "Encyclopaedia of Plants." She was credited with growing lakhs of saplings and was celebrated for her unique approach to nurturing them, ensuring their survival and growth.

Born in 1944 to a tribal family, Tulsi Gowda developed a deep connection with nature at a young age. She began working at a forest department nursery as a daily wage worker and eventually became a symbol of afforestation.

In 2021, Tulsi Gowda was honored with the prestigious Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian awards, in recognition of her immense contributions to afforestation and environmental conservation.

She received the award from former President Ram Nath Kovind, a moment that brought her years of silent work into the national spotlight. Additionally, Dharwad Agricultural University conferred upon her an honorary doctorate for her knowledge and contributions to the environment. She also received the Indira Priyadarshini Vriksha Mitra award and numerous other accolades throughout her lifetime.

 

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
December 10,2024

SMKrishna.jpg

Bengaluru: Karnataka has declared a holiday for state government offices, schools and colleges on Wednesday, December 11, in the wake of a state funeral for former chief minister S M Krishna, who passed away in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

The last rites of Krishna, 92, will be held at his native village of Somanahalli in Mandya's Maddur taluk.

A government order stated that the holiday would apply to private aided educational institutions too.

Besides, the government has declared three days of mourning (December 10-12), during which no public entertainment programmes would take place, while the national flag would fly at half-mast.

S M Krishna passed away at his residence on December 10, 2024. The 92-year-old veteran politician was ailing for quite some time, a family source said.

A charismatic leader with a modern outlook, he not only laid a strong foundation for the growth of IT and BT industries in Karnataka but also managed to get them onboard with the government to build “Brand Bengaluru” at the international level.

He held several prominent positions throughout his career as External Affairs Minister, Maharashtra Governor, Chief Minister of Karnataka, Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Minister in the Karnataka government.

Although known for his tech savviness, flamboyancy, style and the Western outlook, the Congressman-turned-BJP senior leader was a hardcore Bengalorean who loved the city’s trees and flowers. SMK also had a love for tennis. Even when he was Chief Minister, he would visit the tennis court to play the game two to three times a week. 

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
December 12,2024

utkhaderspeaker.jpg

Angry BJP lawmakers stormed Assembly Speaker U T Khader’s chambers at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, escalating tensions after the ruling Congress turned the tables on the saffron party over the Panchamasali Lingayat community’s reservation issue.

The friction began when Congress MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar, a Panchamasali Lingayat, was allowed to criticise the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government’s controversial decision to scrap the 4 per cent Muslim quota, reallocating it equally to Lingayats and Vokkaligas. Kashappanavar slammed the BJP’s move, accusing it of being a mere election gimmick.

“The previous BJP government created two new reservation categories, 2C for Vokkaligas and 2D for Lingayats, just before the 2023 Assembly elections,” Kashappanavar said. “When challenged in the Supreme Court, the BJP government admitted it would not implement the decision. They announced it for votes but backtracked in court, misleading Panchamasali seer Basava Jaya Mrityunjaya Swami.”

Adding fuel to the fire, Kashappanavar alleged that RSS members had incited violence during a protest for enhanced Panchamasali Lingayat reservation. This claim enraged BJP lawmakers, who demanded the comment be expunged. However, Speaker Khader permitted Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda to read aloud the BJP government’s affidavit to the Supreme Court.

“If the Panchamasali Lingayat community has faced injustice, it is because of the BJP,” Gowda declared, sparking further protests from the opposition. BJP leaders accused Khader of being “one-sided” and disregarding a point of order raised by BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar.

When Khader adjourned the session for lunch, the confrontation boiled over. Opposition Leader R Ashoka, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra, MLAs Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, Sunil Kumar, and others barged into Khader’s chambers. Chaos ensued as shouting and hollering echoed through the halls, prompting marshalls to intervene.

“The Speaker was warned that if he continued behaving this way, we would boycott the session,” Narayan stated afterward.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.