Exercising freedom of speech only reason behind attack: Rahim Uchil

naeem@coastaldigest.com (CD Network)
April 19, 2012
Mangalore, April 19: Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy President Rahim Uchil, who has been slowly recovering from multiple stab injuries at a private hospital in city, has stated that exercising the freedom of speech to the fullest extent and being an active member of Bharatiya Janata Party were the only reason for the brutal attack on him.

In a media release issued by him from the hospital bed on Thursday, Mr Uchil has indirectly held a minority dominant political party responsible for March 15 attack, without naming it.

rahim_uchil

“Representatives and activists from different political parties including BJP, Congress, JD(S), CPI(M) and Muslim League have visited me in the hospital and wished a speedy recovery. However, no one from the political arm of an organization, that hatched a plot to murder me, visited me so far. This has strengthened my suspicion”, says the release that bears a thumbprint of Mr Uchil indicating that he is still not in a position to put his signature.

Mr Uchil has appreciated the process of police inquiry into the murder bid case, saying that City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, Inspector Thilakchandra and other officers have been putting forth their honest effort to nab the culprits.

“One of the main accused in the case has already been arrested and base on his revelations police have listed the names of all the accused. Those names have been kept secret as part of investigation norms. The police have also alerted the airport authorities about any possible attempt by them to flee the country” he said.

Appealing his supporters not to lose patience, Mr Uchil said only the real culprits should be arrested no matter how much time it would take.

“I don't take revenge against those who attacked me. I have forgiven them wholeheartedly. I hope that God will give them suitable punishment for their crime. I also have faith in the law”, he added.

Giving a vivid picture of the brutal attack, Mr Uchil said that the miscreants attacked with the sword exactly twelve times on his head, neck and hands. “They might have thought that I was dead. Now, I have become a living example for the fact that no one can take the life of a person if God wishes otherwise. According to neurologists, a broken bone in my head had miraculously blocked a broken nerve connecting the brain and heart, thereby stopping severs bleeding. This miracle saved my life. My doctors have given a reshape to my mutilated hands. However, during the attack I have permanently lost a finger from the right hand”, he said.


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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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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 18,2025

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Tuesday tabled a Bill in the Legislative Assembly to introduce a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in public contracts.

The Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was tabled by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil.

On Friday, the Cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act, reserving 4 per cent of contracts for Muslims in civil works valued up to Rs 2 crore and goods/services contracts up to Rs 1 crore. This proposal was announced by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the 2025-26 Budget, presented on March 7.

Currently, Karnataka provides reservations in civil works contracts for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) at 24 per cent, Other Backward Classes (OBC)–Category 1 at 4 per cent, and OBC–Category 2A at 15 per cent.

There had been demands to include Muslims under Category 2B of the OBCs with a 4 per cent reservation.

The BJP has called the Karnataka government’s move to provide a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in government contracts an "unconstitutional misadventure" and vowed to oppose it at all levels, including challenging it in court, until it is revoked.

The Bill presented on Tuesday further amends the KTPP Act, 1999, to implement the proposal outlined in the 2025-26 budget speech, according to its statement of objects and reasons.

The Bill aims to address unemployment among backward classes and promote their participation in government construction projects, reserving up to 4 per cent for individuals in Category 2B (Muslims) for works valued up to Rs 2 crore.

The Bill also provides for reservations among Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes in the procurement of goods and services, excluding construction works, in notified departments, for contracts valued up to Rs 1 crore.

It encourages their participation in such procurement to the extent of 17.5 per cent for persons belonging to SC, 6.95 per cent for those belonging to ST, 4 per cent for Category 1 of OBC, 15 per cent for Category 2A, and 4 per cent for Category 2B (Muslims).

The Bill stated that the proposed legislative measure involves no additional expenditure.

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