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Mangaluru, A: What began as a simple football match at Nehru Maidan recently descended into a nightmare that no one could have foreseen. A minor clash on the field spiralled into a harrowing ordeal, where innocence was cruelly stripped away, leaving scars far deeper than any physical wounds.

In the heart of the city, a group of students from a renowned private college found themselves caught in a terrifying chain of events. The perpetrators—Diyaan, Tasleem, and Salman—turned a petty dispute into a haunting memory that would forever alter the lives of their young victims. Under the cover of darkness, the assailants kidnapped and cornered the boys near Jappu Mahakali Padpu, unleashing a torrent of violence that defies comprehension.

Forced to strip, the boys’ dignity was torn from them. Cigarettes became instruments of torture, searing their skin with burns, each mark a cruel reminder of their tormentors' inhumanity. As if this weren't enough, they were forced to beg for forgiveness—an act meant to degrade and break their spirits entirely. This harrowing scene, captured on video, has since been shared across social media, a tragic testament to the depths of cruelty that can emerge from something as simple as a game.

The injured students were rushed to a hospital, their physical wounds tended to, but the psychological scars are likely to linger far longer. As the video of their suffering spread, it sparked outrage and sorrow across the community, prompting swift action from the authorities. Two suspects have been apprehended, but the search continues for others who played a role in this heinous act.

In a city known for its vibrant community spirit, this tragic incident casts a long, dark shadow, a reminder of how quickly things can descend into chaos and cruelty when the bonds of humanity are forgotten.

In the heart of Mangaluru, a new chapter in the city's sporting legacy is about to unfold. The football ground attached to the historic Nehru Maidan, long a cradle of athletic aspirations, is on the cusp of a magnificent transformation. 

The Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL) has unveiled an ambitious project to turn the adjoining football ground into a state-of-the-art artificial turf, a venture that promises to elevate the game of football in the region to unprecedented heights.

With an investment of approximately Rs 2.2 crore, this initiative is more than just an upgrade—it's a commitment to nurturing the talent of tomorrow. The new artificial turf will offer local players, especially the budding footballers, a premium surface to hone their skills, fostering a new generation of football excellence.

Arun Prabha KS, the General Manager (Technical) of MSCL, shared the excitement surrounding this project. "The artificial turf will be ready within two months of commencing the work. We are set to officially launch this project soon, with Speaker T Khader gracing the occasion," he revealed. "Despite initial delays due to heavy rains and the ongoing monsoon league tournament, we are now ready to break ground. Once completed, this ground will be a full-fledged football turf, suitable for all levels of competition."

The meticulous planning and dedication that has gone into this project reflect MSCL's unwavering commitment to the sport. The conversion of Nehru Maidan’s football ground into a cutting-edge facility is not merely about providing a better playing surface; it’s about igniting the passion of football in Mangaluru and offering a stage where dreams can come alive.

As the city eagerly awaits the inauguration, the anticipation is palpable. The Nehru Maidan is set to become more than just a field—it will be the emerald heart of Mangaluru's football dreams, a place where the future of the sport in this region will take root and flourish.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday set aside the Calcutta High Court order asking adolescent girls to control their sexual urges.

A Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said it has also explained in detail on how courts should write judgments.

The verdict came in a suo motu case initiated in the wake of a Calcutta High Court ruling that had called for adolescent girls to "control" their sexual urges instead of "giving in to two minutes of pleasure".

It had sparked controversy since it proposed a 'duty/obligation based approach' for teenagers, and suggested that adolescent females and males have different duties.

The Supreme Court had taken suo motu coginzance of the same in December 2023, opining that the comments made by the High Court were sweeping, objectionable, irrelevant, preachy and unwarranted.

The top court had also remarked that the High Court ruling sent wrong signals.

In the case before High Court, the  division bench of Justices Chitta Ranjan Dash and Partha Sarathi Sen had acquitted a youth, who was convicted for raping a minor girl, with whom he had a 'romantic affair'.

Today, the top court restored the conviction and said a committee of experts will take a call on his sentence.

Senior Advocates Madhavi Divan and Liz Mathew were amici curiae in the matter.

Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi and advocate Astha Sharma appeared for State of West Bengal, which also had filed an appeal against the High Court verdict.