ACP apologises for smoking in public, misbehaving with Dalit student

naeem@coastaldigest.com (CD Network, Photos by Ahmed Anwar)
February 27, 2012

scst


Mangalore, February 27: In an interesting development at SC/ST monthly grievance redressal meeting at Mangalore City Commissioner's office, an Assistant Commissioner of Police was forced to apologize for smoking in the public and misbehaving with a Dalit boy, who had questioned him for violating the law.

Chairing the Sunday's meeting Deputy Commissioner of Police Dharmaiah appreciated the courage of Mahanthesh, a Dalit student, when the latter narrated an incident of ACP (Traffic) GV Subrahmanyam smoking in public place on Sunday morning.

Mahanthesh said that ACP was puffing outside Swagath hotel in State Bank area. “When I questioned him, he turned arrogant and asked me who am I to question him and even insulted me. Isn't it wrong?” he asked. In response, the DCP appreciated the boy for his alert attitude and courage.

“Now, he (ACP) does not need any punishment, for I have appreciated you in public in itself is his punishment,” said the DCP. The ACP who too was present at the meet apologised for his behaviour.

Prior to this representatives of various Dalit groups staged a dharna inside the meeting hall alleging the police of not taking any action to redress many of their grievances.

Raising one such issue, wherein Dalit woman Sunitha from Harekala has gone missing since five months, Dalita Hakkugala Horata Samiti Secretary Lingappa Nanthoor alleged the police of not probing the case.

“We come with several complaints and problems, but you (police) do not solve them. You are not interested in organising SC / ST meetings and listening to our grievances. The meetings were not arranged during last two months and it shows your negligence,” he alleged.

Dalit Sangharsha Simiti leader S P Anand too joined him and accused that the police are arranging the meet just for namesake. “Every time we get assurances, but the cases remain unsolved. If this is the case, why do you arrange the meeting,” he questioned. A portion of the community members belonging to one sect of DSS woke up from their chairs and sat on the conference hall floor, protesting against the police.

Calming the crowd, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Dharmaiah said that it was not justifiable to blame the police for everything. “We are doing our best to solve the cases and meeting is arranged with a good intention. As far as missing woman's case is concerned, the police are not inactive. “We have tracked over 50,000 phone calls so far and have examined several unidentified dead bodies across the State. The investigation is in progress and we would catch the culprit soon,” he assured.

Further, he said that the Commissionerate could not organise meetings during the last two months due to hectic schedule. When S P Anand raised the issue of Sub Inspector Bharati harassing Dalit youth months ago, Dharmaiah assured that he would get the detailed report about the incident within 15 days and there would not be further delay.

When a woman complained of being harassed by loan lenders, the DCP said that police were not responsible for everything. “You people should be careful enough in the matters pertaining to money. Ensure that all papers are maintained properly while lending and receiving loans.”

Dalit youth Nirmal Kumar complained that police were not going for rounds in Dalit colonies on night beat, for which the DCP said that he would ensure that the police would go on rounds regularly from Monday.

A few Dalit members also alleged that the police in the City and the district were puppet in the hands of politicians which is the reason for dealy in solving the cases.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Mutthuraya was present.

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coastaldigest.com news network
March 20,2025

Mangaluru International Airport (MIA), Karnataka’s second busiest airport, has seen 148.5kg of gold smuggled between 2019 and December 2024, with 90% arriving from the UAE. Customs officials recorded 346 cases, averaging 30kg of gold seized per year (2.5kg per month). Most smugglers are from Kerala and Bhatkal.

A senior customs officer revealed that MIA sees at least five gold smuggling cases per month. Numbers dropped during the pandemic but surged after flights resumed. Many offenders are first-time carriers, while some are habitual smugglers. With fewer flights, customs thoroughly checks passengers, making smuggling harder.

Smugglers constantly innovate concealment methods. Hiding gold in the rectum remains common, but gold is also found in trolley bags, mobile covers, chocolate boxes, milk powder, biscuit packets, and clothing layers. Electronic devices like car speaker magnets, LED bulbs, AirPods, wristwatches, and ballpoint pens have been used.

Unusual tactics include hiding gold in a woman’s hairband, a baby’s diaper, and even a kheer mix packet (347g). In one case, a passenger attempted to smuggle 100g in his mouth under a mask but was caught.

Officials note that while the UAE remains a key source, smugglers now bring gold from other Gulf countries, continuously adapting to evade detection.

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News Network
March 21,2025

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Assembly on Friday passed Bills doubling the salaries of the chief minister, ministers, and legislators, adding an annual burden of ₹62 crore on the exchequer.

The CM's monthly salary will increase from ₹75,000 to ₹1.5 lakh, while ministers will see a 108% hike, from ₹60,000 to ₹1.25 lakh. MLAs and MLCs will get ₹80,000 per month, up from ₹40,000, and their pension will rise from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000.

The Karnataka Ministers Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill and the Karnataka Legislature Salaries, Pensions and Allowances (Amendment) Bill were passed without debate, as the Opposition BJP protested in the well of the House.

The Bills cited the rising cost of living as justification for the hike. The Assembly Speaker and Legislative Council chairperson will now receive ₹1.25 lakh per month, up from ₹75,000.

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Agencies
March 28,2025

Udupi: Deputy Commissioner K. Vidya Kumari has directed officials to expedite land acquisition for designated industrial zones in the district to facilitate new industries. She issued these instructions during a meeting at Rajatadri on Wednesday.

Lands have been identified across various taluks for industrial development. The DC emphasized that KIADB must acquire these lands and ensure essential infrastructure—electricity, roads, and drainage—to attract industries and generate employment.

A total of 77 acres of private land has been acquired and compensated, including 31.2 acres in Kerebettu village, Hebri taluk, and 45.7 acres in Shivapura village. However, approval for 36.5 acres of government land is still pending. She instructed the forest department to assess whether this land falls under an eco-sensitive zone.

For the Belapu Industrial Area, the DC urged officials to accelerate minor land acquisitions for road expansion and commence construction at the earliest. She also mandated rainwater harvesting systems for all units in the Miyaru Industrial Area to tackle water scarcity.

Currently, 22 export-based units operate in the district. The DC encouraged further promotion of exports and an increase in their number.

The meeting was attended by Joint Director of Industries Nagraj V. Naik, KIADB Development Officer Srinivasa Murthy, Small-Scale Industries Association District President Harish Kunder, Deputy Director of the District Industrial Center Seetharam Shetty, District Skill Development Officer Arun B., and others.

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