VHP, Bajrang Dal take out 'awareness' march as city gears up for Valentine's Day

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Ahmed Anwar, kpn )
February 13, 2012

Mangalore, February 13: The members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal on Monday took out an awareness march in the city against Valentine's Day celebration.

Though the activists had planned to take out motorbike rally as part of their awareness campaign, the police stopped them for not obtaining permission. However, they marched from Urwa Market to PVS circle raising slogans against the western culture and public display of obscenity.

The protesters also submitted a memorandum to the district administration urging it to close all parties by 11:00 p.m. and cancel permits to pubs and DJ's on February 14.

"We oppose Valentine's Day because the concept has come from the West, and through it, an attempt is being made to spoil the Indian culture," said Bajrang Dal Convener Sharan Pumpwell, while talking to Coastaldigest.com

"We have communicated our demand well in advance to the district administration and police department and now it is for them to ensure that there is no obscenity and immorality on Valentine's Day. But if there will be any immoral activities, we will be forced to stop the youths ourselves from doing so," he said adding that “We will hand over them to police”.

He also said that Bajrang Dal activists, apart from meeting owners of restaurants, pub and bar etc in the city to urge them not to give opportunity for youngsters to spoil the Indian culture, distributed pamphlets against Valentine's Day among college students.

Another Bajrang Dal activist said, "Our teams will visit parks frequented by boys and girls. If we found anyone violating the norms of Indian culture, we will stop them and handover them to the police immediately”.

However, the owners of flower shops and gift stores are hopeful of a good turnout of youngsters on Valentine's Day.

Florists are making heart-shaped bouquets in bulk, while gift stores are stocking V-Day special cards and chocolates to woo youngsters.

Some enthusiastic youngsters, in order to avoid problems due to VHP and Bajrang Dal protesters, are planning to celebrate Valentine's Day secretly.

Irked over the protest-threats by the Bajrang Dal and VHP activists, Jasmine D'Souza, a 20-year-old college student said: "It is an irony of sorts that when the day calls for a universal celebration of love on February 14, in India - the country that boasts of the largest symbol of love - the Taj Mahal, the day would witness protests and demonstrations."

Reshma Pereira (25), an employee at a call centre said: “We lovers don't bother about their threats. We are matured enough and we know how to celebrate our day.” She added that instead of staging protest against innocent lovers, the VHP and Bajrang Dal could have staged protest against the Assembly porngate, and BJP government sponsored St Mary's Island Rave Party.

Abhinav Rao, an ABVP activist said that he has always been a devotee of the true love. “Instead of celebrating the love just for one day we should worship it throughout the year. This is our culture. If youth select one day to express your love we don't have any issues with it. But, it should not cross the boundaries of the social norms and morality”, he said.

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News Network
January 8,2025

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Mangaluru, Jan 8: The serene beaches near Kulai Jetty under the limits of Surathkal police station turned into a scene of tragedy on Wednesday, January 8, as a group of four close friends saw their day of joy morph into heartbreak. 

Three young men lost their lives in the unforgiving waves, while one narrowly escaped death, saved by the heroic efforts of local fishermen.

The victims have been identified as: 

M. S. Manjunath (31), son of Shivlingappa, hailing from Upparigenahalli, Chitradurga district.

Shivakumar (30) from Shivamogga district.

Satyavelu (30) from JP Nagar, Bengaluru.

The sole survivor, Parameshwara (30), from Hangarga, Bidar district, now carries the weight of a harrowing ordeal and the devastating loss of his three closest friends.

These young men, all students of AMC Engineering College in Bengaluru, had embarked on a trip meant to create memories of joy and camaraderie. Driving overnight from Bengaluru, they reached Mangaluru on Wednesday morning. After breakfast at a local eatery, the group decided to visit the picturesque Kulai Jetty, seeking solace and adventure in the sea.

But their joyful outing took a tragic turn. While playing in the water, the four were caught in strong currents. Despite the swift intervention of local fishermen, only Parameshwara could be rescued in time. The lifeless bodies of Manjunath, Shivakumar, and Satyavelu were later found on the right side of the jetty, their dreams and futures cruelly cut short.

The Surathkal police, alerted to the incident, promptly arrived at the scene and began their investigation. The bodies were transported to AJ Hospital for post-mortem examinations, leaving their families and friends to grapple with the enormity of their loss.

A case has been registered at Surathkal Police Station. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable and dangerous nature of the sea, urging visitors to prioritize safety above all else.

What was meant to be a day of joy has left a void that can never be filled, as three grieving families now face the unbearable pain of losing their loved ones.

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News Network
January 18,2025

Sullia, Jan 18: In a shocking incident, a man shot his wife dead during a fit of rage over a minor argument and later took his own life by consuming poison. The heartbreaking event unfolded late Friday night in Kodimajalu in Sullia taluk of Dakshina Kannada.

The accused, identified as Ramachandra Gowda alias Chandra (53), used his licensed firearm to commit the crime. His wife, Vinoda (43), tragically lost her life in the incident.

On the fateful night, Ramachandra reportedly started an argument with his family after dinner over a trivial matter. The heated exchange escalated, and in a fit of uncontrollable anger, he allegedly aimed his firearm at his elder son, Prashanth. Vinoda intervened to prevent the attack, attempting to wrest the gun from Ramachandra.

However, enraged by her intervention, Ramachandra turned the gun on Vinoda and shot her, leaving her dead on the spot. Overwhelmed by the gravity of his actions, he consumed acid, commonly used for rubber processing, to end his own life.

Based on Prashanth’s statement, a case has been registered at the Sullia police station. The tragic sequence of events has left the village in shock and mourning, raising concerns about the unchecked escalation of domestic disputes.

This devastating incident underscores the importance of addressing domestic tensions before they spiral into irreversible tragedies.

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News Network
January 17,2025

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Mangaluru, Jan 17: A heart-wrenching accident at Nadupadavu near Kattukodi on the outskirts of the city claimed the life of a young scooter rider this morning. 

The victim, identified as Abubakar Siddiq Razwi (22), son of Moydeen Kunji Bavu and a resident of Nadupadavu, tragically succumbed to his injuries on the spot.

The accident occurred when a scooter traveling from Deralakatte collided with an Ace Tempo heading from Mudipu to Thokkottu.

Abubakar, a final-year student at an Arabic Shariah College in Kasargod, leaves behind a community in mourning. The tempo driver also sustained injuries in the collision.

The Mangaluru South Traffic Police have registered a case and are conducting an investigation into the incident.

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