Mangalore: Students protest against SC verdict ruling gay sex illegal

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Ahmed Anwar )

December 17, 2013

Mangalore, Dec 17: Several students and a group of people representing sexual minorities staged a protest on Monday against a decision by the Supreme Court to uphold a law that criminalizes gay sex.

The top court last week reversed a landmark 2009 verdict of the Delhi High Court that had decriminalized gay sex. The section criminalises intercourse against the order of nature, which makes gay sex illegal.

Five persons from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community joined the college students in a march from St. Agnes College Circle to City Centre mall.

“This is a fight for our rights. We want the government to allow us to spend time with the person we love,” said Sanjeeva from Udupi, who has been involved in counselling LGBT members about safe sex and regarding facilities for testing Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Another LGBT community member from Udupi said there was some relief for people of the community following the judgment of the Delhi High Court in July 2009 decriminalising gay sex between two consenting adult partners.

“With the Supreme Court's recent order, we are back to square one. Harassment will start,” he said. The LGBT member said they were happy to join the students, who are speaking for the cause of sexual minorities. On our own we are not in a position to muster numbers in the twin districts to carry out a demonstration,” he said.

The students said that they were happy to fight for the cause of sexual minorities.

“We spread the word among our friends through mobile phones and social networking sites seeking support for sexual minorities. This archaic law should be annulled,” said a student from a city college.

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Situation in Nagamangala town peaceful after Ganesh idol procession violence: Home Minister

News Network

September 14,2024

Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said the situation in violence-hit Nagamangala town in Mandya district is peaceful now, and steps have been taken to ensure that no untoward incidents take place.

Clashes had broken out between two groups during the Ganesh idol procession in the town, following which mobs went on a rampage with stone pelting and targeting several shops and vehicles leading to tension on Wednesday night.

"Situation in Nagamangala is now peaceful and there is no problem there. I have also instructed officials to hold a peace meeting there. We have instructed officers to ensure that no untoward incidents take place, enough police force is also stationed there," Parameshwara told reporters here.

About 55 people have been arrested in connection with the incident and they have been sent to judicial custody, according to police sources.

Responding to a question on opposition parties including JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy raising doubts about the FIR, he said, "The police will do what has to be done in accordance with law..."

Asked about BJP sending a fact finding team to Nagamangala, the Home Minister said, "Let them find the facts and inform us, and if there is any fact from their fact finding, we will look into it. It will make our work a bit easier." The BJP panel consisting of MLA C N Ashwath Narayan, former Minister Byrathi Basavaraj, former Minister K C Narayana Gowda, state secretary Lakshmi Ashwin Gowda, and former IPS officer Bhaskar Rao, will visit the spot and submit a comprehensive report to the party in a week.

According to police, an argument had broken out between two groups, when the Ganesh idol procession by devotees from Badri Koppalu village reached a place of worship on Wednesday, and some miscreants hurled stones, which escalated the situation.

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Deputy SP suspended over Ganesh idol procession violence in Mandya

News Network

September 20,2024

Mandya: The Deputy Superintendent of Police of Nagamangala town in Mandya district has been suspended for "negligence and dereliction of duty" in connection with the clashes that broke out between two groups during a Lord Ganesh idol procession, police said on Friday.

This is the second suspension of a police officer over the clashes on September 11 following which mobs went on a rampage targeting several shops and vehicles leading to tension here.

The situation in the town has since returned to normalcy and most of the shops have started operating. However, adequate security forces continued to be stationed here as a precautionary measure, according to police.

Sumeeth A R, DySP (Nagamangala), was suspended on Thursday for negligence and dereliction of duty, Mandya Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baldandi told PTI.

"He (Sumeeth) was not present at the spot nor was he at the police headquarters when the incident occurred. He arrived late at the spot despite the sensitive nature of events," he said.

Earlier, Police Inspector Ashok Kumar posted at Nagamangala town police station was suspended for dereliction of duty in connection with the violence.

A total of 55 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.

According to police, an argument broke out between two groups, when the Ganesh idol procession by devotees from Badarikoppalu village reached a place of worship on September 11, and some miscreants hurled stones, which escalated the situation.

The police had used mild force to disperse the crowd to control the situation.

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