Woman kept in captivity for 20 years by husband'

November 3, 2011

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Mangalore, November 3: This is a tragic story of a 'Jaycee Queen', who is imprisoned in the dark room of her own house and kept in captivity for the last 20years. This is also a story of a stepmother and her step children with a difference. This step mother is not married to her children's father KP Suresh Raj, who is known to be an architect in Mangalore, but, lives in his house as a mistress, according to his own daughter.

"Suresh Raj built a house after his marriage to Vilasini Raj with the money he received from his father-in-law. This now costs around Rs 3 crore and situated opposite CV Nayak hall on the bunts Hostel Road which is named as 'Madhusara'. Entry to his daughter and son-in-law is denied to his house in spite of court orders."

"This mistress of Suresh Raj was married to another man whom she abandoned along with one-year-old daughter and simply disappeared and surfaced after sometime as an employee of KREC (now NITK), where Suresh Raj became friendly with her and started ill-treating Vilasini."

This weird triangle story in which Suresh Raj, Vilasini Raj and Manorama Rao were involved, came to light a couple of weeks ago, when a young couple from Bangalore paid a visit to the office of People's Union for Civil Liberties in Mangalore.

The name of the couple is Sathish Chandran and Sheen Sathish, who happened to be son-in-law and daughter of Suresh Raj. In PUCL office, Sheen narrated the story of the havoc Manorama created in their happy and prosperous family and ill-treated her.

P. B D'Sa, State President of PUCL, on Thursday addressing a press meet, here, said that he will be writing to Human Rights Commission before approaching Police Commissioner seeking justice for the victim.

The tragic story goes like this: Vilasini Raj that was having good health till Manorama Rao entered into her house in 1990 started slowly losing her mental balance and was slowly pushed into a dark room in the house. Manorama had brought along her five year old son born out of extra marital relationship with Suresh Raj. As per the statement of Sheen her father had extra marital relationship with Manorama since a long time. He had bought a house for her at Bendoorwell where her son Swarun was born. Her father used to regularly take her and her brother to Bendoorwell house, where they used to meet Manorama and Swarun. This extramarital relationship had come to the knowledge of Vilasini and she entered into Suresh Raj's office at Falneer and created a scene in the office, since Manorama used to be there in the office. This incident unfortunately turned life of Vilasini Raj; she was confined to the dark room and never allowed to come out of the house. During this long period of 20 years Vilasini Raj has lost complete balance of her mind and memory and she is unable to converse properly.

Sheen doubts the bona fides of her unmarried step-mother and suspects that her mother is medicated so that she can die a slow death and all this is for Vilasini Raj's property.

Sheen and Sathish have been running from pillar to post to stay with the mother and look after her and give proper medical care but Suresh Raj aborted all their attempts. Today they travel up and down from Bangalore where Sathish works for IT Company.

At one point of their struggle the Women's Commission had directed the Commissioner of Police Mangalore to enquire into the allegations made by Sheen against Suresh Raj, but it said that the police were won over by Suresh Raj and an endorsement was given to her that her allegations are all false. It is also said that the chairman of Women's Commission had ostensibly come for inspection and enquiry of the complaint given by Sheen and that she stayed as guest of honor in Madhusara.

Sheen of the opinion that Suresh Raj being a builder, who is friendly with the district in-charge minister, is able to face any problem unless the people of this city revolt against this sort of treatment to an honorable lady.

“While the son born out of wedlock to Manorama and Suresh Raj has inherited his illegitimate father's business and occupies “Madhusara” i.e. Vilasini's house, there is no entry to the real inheritors of the house i.e. Sheen and Sharun”, said Mr D'Sa.

Mr D'sa appealed to the women's organisations in the city, which have always upheld the sanctity of a woman and mother, to take the cause of this lady in illegal detention under another lady.

David D'Souza and Walter Pinto of PUCL were present along with Sheen Sathish and Sathish Chandran in the press meet.

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PB D'Sa addresses the media on Thursday. Sathish Chandran and Sheen Sathish couple can also be seen along with him. (Photo by Ahmed Anwar)

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News Network
November 23,2024

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Bengaluru: In a boost to the ruling Congress in Karnataka, the party on Saturday swept the by-polls to three Assembly segments, causing a major setback to the BJP-JD(S) alliance in the state.

The Congress has retained Sandur, the seat considered to be its strong hold, and has also bagged Shiggaon and Channapatna segments, which were earlier held by BJP and JD(S) respectively.

The November 13 by-polls to Sandur, Shiggaon and Channapatna Assembly segments had witnessed a fierce fight between the ruling Congress and a combative BJP-JD(S) alliance.

The by-polls to Sandur, Shiggaon and Channapatna were necessitated as the seats fell vacant following the election of their respective representatives -- E Tukaram of Congress, former CM Basavaraj Bommai of BJP, and Union Minister Kumaraswamy of JD(S) to Lok Sabha in May elections.

The by-polls witnessed a straight fight between the ruling Congress and BJP in Sandur and Shiggaon segments, while in Channapatna, JD(S) which is part of the NDA alliance took on the grand old party.

Congress' C P Yogeeshwara won the Channapatna segment, defeating JD(S) candidate and Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Kumaraswamy, by a margin of 25,413 votes.

Former CM Basavaraj Bommai's son Bharath Bommai of BJP faced defeat against Congress' Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan in Shiggaon Assembly segment by a margin of 13,448 votes.

In Sandur, Congress candidate E Annapoorna, the wife of Bellary MP E Tukaram, won the seat vacated by her husband, by a margin of 9,649 votes.

Congress' win in the by-poll is seen as an endorsement of both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar's leadership, and the government's programmes, especially the five guarantee schemes.

Nikhil Kumaraswamy and Bharath Bommai, the third generation of Gowda and Bommai family respectively, who contested this bypolls, have lost. Their fathers and grandfathers had served as Karnataka's Chief Ministers in the past.

While for Bharath Bommai this was his electoral debut, for Nikhil it was his third electoral loss.

Among the three segments, Channapatna was considered to be a high profile battle, where the contest was between C P Yogeeshwara and actor-turned-politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy.

A five-time MLA from the segment and a former Minister, Yogeeshwara had joined the Congress after quitting BJP ahead of nomination.

There were plans to field Yogeeshwara on a JD(S) ticket, but he was not interested in it, and instead wanted Kumaraswamy to support him as BJP candidate. This was not acceptable to Kumaraswamy and his party, following which Yogeeshwara jumped ship.

However, Kumaraswamy had subsequently said he had agreed to Yogeeshwara contesting from BJP, and despite that he jumped ship to Congress, under the influence of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and his brother and former MP D K Suresh.

Nikhil had faced defeat in 2019 Lok Sabha and 2023 Assembly polls. It is seen as a setback for Kumaraswamy too, as he could not ensure son's win from the Channapatna, the seat he had twice represented in the past.

Congress' win is crucial for Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief and his brother Suresh to strengthen their position in their home district of Ramanagara, a Vokkaliga heartland.

In Shiggaon, BJP's Bharath Bommai, son of Basavaraj Bommai lost against Congress' Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, who had faced defeat against the former Chief Minister in the 2023 Assembly polls.

Initially, former MLA Syed Azeempeer Khadri, a Congress' ticket aspirant, had raised a banner of revolt in Shiggaon, by filing his nomination as an independent, but later withdrew after intervention by party leadership.

In Sandur, Bellary MP Tukaram's wife E Annapurna of Congress won from the seat vacated by her husband, against BJP ST Morcha president Bangaru Hanumanthu, who is considered close to party leader and former mining barron G Janardhan Reddy.

Sandur is a Congress' bastion, and Tukaram had represented it four times.

Congress winning the by-polls is seen as "crucial" for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to assert himself , amid demands for his resignation following charges against him in the MUDA site allotment case.

There were also behind-the-scenes political activities within the ruling Congress earlier this year, with a few ministers in his Cabinet holding closed door meetings, fueling speculation about leadership change. But such activities came to a halt following instructions from the party high command.

It is equally important for Shivakumar, who has not shied away from openly expressing his Chief Ministerial ambitions, amid speculations over "rotational Chief Minister formula," according to which he will become CM after two-and-half years (in this govt's five years tenure), but they have not been officially confirmed by the party.

The defeat in this by-poll is seen as a setback for state BJP President Vijayendra, who has been facing intense criticism and opposition from a section within the party, who have raised a banner of revolt against his leadership accusing him and his father, veteran leader B S Yediyurappa of "adjustment politics".

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November 19,2024

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The Karnataka Police’s Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) achieved a major breakthrough on Monday night by eliminating Vikram Gowda, one of Karnataka’s most wanted Naxal leaders for over two decades. The encounter occurred in the dense Kabbinale forest of Udupi district, marking a significant victory against Naxal insurgency in the region.

Who Was Vikram Gowda?

Hailing from Hebri in Udupi, Vikram Gowda, 44, was a prominent figure in the Naxal movement. He went underground in 2002, initially serving as a courier and fund collector before rising to lead a breakaway Naxal group. Despite having only a fourth-grade education, he was a staunch advocate for tribal rights and a key player in the movement’s survival in Karnataka.

Bounty: ₹3 lakh from Karnataka and ₹50,000 from Kerala.

Legacy: The last major Naxal leader in Karnataka after the 2021 arrest of B G Krishnamurthy.

The Encounter

Police revealed that Gowda and his team visited Kabbinale village to collect groceries on Monday night. Acting on a tip-off, ANF ambushed the group. When the Naxals opened fire, ANF responded, leading to Gowda's death.

Escapees: Three Naxals fled, including prominent members Latha (aka Mundgaru Latha) and Raju.

Significance: This was the first Naxal casualty in Karnataka in over two decades.

Home Minister G. Parameshwara confirmed the operation, stating, “Gowda was elusive for 20 years, escaping multiple encounters. His death is a critical step in dismantling Naxal operations in the region.”

The Decline of Naxal Activity in Karnataka

Karnataka's Naxal movement has been dwindling, with members seeking refuge in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The group’s strength had reduced to just 19 members by 2018, but recent sightings indicate attempts at revival:

2023 Activity: Reports of Gowda-led movements in the Kodagu and Hassan districts reignited concerns.

Political Heat: The BJP criticised the Congress government, alleging it created a “safe haven” for Naxals.

A Glimpse into Gowda’s Past

Personal Life: Gowda’s ex-wife, Savitri (alias Rajita), was arrested in 2021. She was a senior Naxal commander involved in insurgency since 2004.
Rehabilitation Efforts: Since 2013, Karnataka’s rehabilitation policy has seen 14 Naxals surrender and reintegrate into mainstream society.

A Milestone in Karnataka’s Fight Against Insurgency

The operation signifies a decisive blow to Naxal resurgence in the Western Ghats. While the ANF continues its search for escapees, the Karnataka government reaffirmed its commitment to offering rehabilitation to those willing to surrender.

As Karnataka celebrates this triumph, the message is clear: there is no room for insurgency in the state.

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News Network
November 28,2024

Udupi: A 53-year-old woman fell victim to a sophisticated online fraud, losing ₹19.7 lakh to scammers posing as officials from telecom companies and the police.

According to the complaint filed by Vidya, the incident began on October 4 when she received a call from an individual claiming to be from Airtel. The caller alleged that a SIM card linked to her Aadhaar was being misused in Mumbai for spam and fraudulent activities. They warned her that all her mobile numbers could be blocked and connected her to a supposed "Sahara police station."

A man identifying himself as Mohan Kumar, an "investigation officer" from the Sahara police station, then contacted Vidya. He alleged that a fraudulent bank account had been opened in her name at an SBI branch in Mumbai. This account, he claimed, was being used for human trafficking and money laundering activities by someone named Vivek Das. He insisted that all her bank accounts needed to be reviewed.

On October 5, the scam escalated when Kumar, posing as a police officer, threatened Vidya with arrest and warned her not to leave her location without his permission. He demanded that she transfer funds from her accounts to specific UPI IDs and bank accounts under the pretext of "reviewing" her finances. Fearing legal consequences, Vidya complied and transferred ₹19.7 lakh in installments between October 16 and November 7.

The fraud came to light only after she realized she had been deceived. A case has been registered at the CEN (Cyber, Economic, and Narcotics) police station, and an investigation is underway.

Public Warning:

  • Beware of unsolicited calls claiming to be from telecom companies, banks, or police stations.
  • Never share sensitive personal or banking details over the phone.
  • Always verify the identity of callers through official channels before taking any action.
  • If in doubt, contact your local police or cybercrime cell immediately.
  • Stay vigilant to avoid falling prey to such scams!

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