No point in banning Gutka without banning cigarettes'

Mangalore, July 24: The Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) Limited has urged the Karnataka State government not to take hasty steps to ban paan masala and gutka.

The appeal comes in the wake of Karnataka High Court issuing a notice to the State government on a public interest litigation petition seeking a ban on the manufacture, storage, sale and distribution of gutka, paan masala and all other forms of chewing tobacco containing tobacco and nicotine as ingredients.

The petition pointed out that Madhya Pradesh and Kerala had exercised powers under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011 to ban these products.

Addressing media person here on Tuesday Campco Ltd President Konkodi Padmanabha pointed out that paan masala doesn't have tobacco content in it and gutka contains 80 per cent areca-nut. There is no point in banning paan masala and gutka without banning products like cigarrettes, beedi and Chutta, he said.

Mr Padmanabha also suggested that if tobacco was harmful to health, then it would be better to ban that substance from gutka instead of banning the whole product all of a sudden. If the banning is necessary the government should impose it step by step after providing rehabilitation package to growers, he added.

Mr Padmanabha also informed that Campco Ltd would be holding a three day 'Krishi Yanthra Mela- II from November 2 to 4 this year in association with ARDF, Puttur Vivekananda Engineering College.

He said that around 50,000 farmers from different parts of Karnataka and nearby state of Kerala were expected take part in the event, which would have seminars and exhibitions.

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Mangaluru: 32-year-old Karthik Bhat ends life after brutally killing wife and child

News Network

November 10,2024

Mangaluru: A heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded in the quiet Bellayuru village on the outskirts of Mangaluru as a man’s life ended on a railway track following an apparent double murder. Authorities from the Mulki police station identified the man as Karthik Bhat, 32, whose lifeless body was discovered on the tracks with his head positioned on the rail, indicating a tragic suicide.

Nearby, police recovered keys to a scooter and a house, which eventually led them to uncover a series of chilling events. Following the trail, officers located Bhat’s scooter parked near Mahammayi Temple. Inside the vehicle, they found documents confirming his identity, including an RC, insurance papers, and his driving license.

Their search continued to Bhat's home in Pakshikere, Kemral village, where they discovered a locked room. With the keys retrieved from the tracks, police unlocked the door, only to be confronted by a horrifying sight. The bodies of Priyanka (28) and her young son Hriday (4) lay in a pool of blood, pointing to a brutal murder that occurred just hours before Bhat’s suicide.

Initial investigations suggest Bhat, beleaguered by ongoing family disputes, committed the murders of his wife and son on the evening of November 8 before tragically ending his own life. A death note found in his diary hinted at his mental state and tragic intentions.

Priyanka’s family, residing in Shivamogga, was informed of the incident. The couple, married for six years, now leaves behind grieving relatives and unanswered questions. Police have initiated formal proceedings, collecting statements from family members as they continue their investigation into the tragic sequence of events.

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