New twist in Soujanya rape and murder: Court summons 3 from Dharmasthala

executive@coastaldigest.com (CD Network)
November 20, 2016

Mangaluru, Nov 20: In a new twist to the 2012 Soujanya rape and murder case, a Special CBI Court has summoned three persons from Dharmasthala not named by the investigation agency in its charge sheet.

Soujanya

Soujanya, who was then a 17-year-girl and II PUC student of SDM college, Ujire was raped and murdered while returning home after finishing classes on October 10, 2012. This had triggered widespread protests in Dakshina Kannada.

The 50th Additional Sessions Court on Saturday issued summons to Mallik Jain, Uday Jain and Dheeraj Jain of Dharmasthala. The judge directed the trio to appear before the court and face the trial.

The summons were issued based on the petition filed by Soujanya's father Chandrappa Gouda pleading before the court to consider the trio as accused, saying they are involved in the murder.

The trial of the case is in progress. Witness statements by two doctors who conducted post-mortem on the body have given a new twist to the case. During cross examination, they testified that the crime was committed by more than one person.

While issuing the summons under Section 319 of CrPC, the court observed that Santosh Rao, given his mental ailments, couldn't have committed the crime alone. It relied on the doctor's statements for issuing the summons to Jain trio, sources said.

The CID had arrested Santosh Rao, who suffers from depression and other mental ailments, in connection with the murder. Now, the Special CBI Court has summoned the three others, based on new information presented during the trial. Till date, Public Prosecutor Shivananda Perla has examined 15 witnesses, including the two doctors. 

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News Network
March 27,2025

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The Karnataka government has announced that Nandini milk will become ₹4 costlier per litre starting April 1, 2025. This is the second price hike this year.

The decision was made during a cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Karnataka Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna and Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkatesh said the increase is meant to support dairy farmers by covering the rising costs of producing and processing milk.

Officials also said that:

>> The extra money from the price hike will go directly to the milk producers.

>> The earlier ₹2 price hike (announced on June 26, 2024) will be withdrawn.

>> The new price hike of ₹4 will apply to both 500 ml and 1-litre packets.

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News Network
April 7,2025

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Mangaluru, Apr 7: In a chilling and heart-wrenching turn of events from Nadugallu in Nalakuru village of Sullia taluk in Dakshina Kannada, a mother and son’s desperate act to end their lives has left a community in disbelief. The duo allegedly consumed rodent poison in a joint suicide attempt, resulting in the son’s death and leaving the mother in a critical condition.

The deceased has been identified as 32-year-old Nithin, son of Kushalappa Gowda of Derappajjanamane, Nalakuru. His mother, Sulochana, is currently battling for her life in a hospital. According to sources, the incident took place three days ago, with both victims falling severely ill by the morning of April 6.

Nithin, an ITI diploma holder, had been managing his family's agricultural land. He had married Deeksha, a guest lecturer at a local college, about a year ago. At the time of the tragic incident, Deeksha was reportedly staying at her parental home. During her absence, Nithin and Sulochana allegedly consumed poison in what is believed to be a premeditated act.

Well-known in the village for his kind demeanor and strong social ties, Nithin’s untimely death has cast a shadow of grief and shock across the local community. His father, Kushalappa Gowda, is also said to be ailing.

The Subrahmanya police have registered a case and initiated an investigation to uncover the circumstances leading to this devastating event.

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News Network
April 7,2025

Mangaluru, Apr 7: The long-standing demand for a separate Beary Development Corporation has hit a wall — the Karnataka government has officially stated that no such proposal is currently under consideration.

Beary-speaking people, mainly settled across Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and parts of Kodagu, have been urging the government to set up a dedicated body for the welfare of their community and the promotion of their unique 1,200-year-old language. But during the recent legislative session, Minority Affairs Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan confirmed that his department has not received any proposal on this matter.

The clarification came in response to a question by MLC Ivan D’Souza, who highlighted the community’s cultural richness and a population of over 25 lakh. “The community has raised this demand several times to support education and social upliftment, but the government hasn’t taken any concrete steps,” he said.

In his reply, the minister pointed out that the Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation (KMDC) already runs various welfare schemes for Muslim, Christian, Jain, Buddhist, Sikh, and Parsi communities. Since Beary speakers are considered part of the Muslim community, they are eligible for benefits under these existing programs, he added.

Still, many in the Beary community feel that without a separate development body, their identity, language, and specific needs risk being overlooked.

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