Ban Zakir Naik, not astrology; Togadia to visit Mangaluru on Jan 6: Bajrang Dal

December 11, 2015

Udupi, Dec 10: The Bajrang Dal has urged the Karnataka state government to ban the entry of Dr Zakir Naik, an authority in comparative religion, instead of banning astrology programmes being aired on television channels.

Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, the Bajrang Dal Karnataka South zonal coordinator Sharan Pumpwell said that his group strongly opposed the government decision to permit Dr Naik’s programme in Mangaluru. Dr Naik was supposed to address a peace conference in Mangaluru on January 3.

Mr Pumpwell alleged that government’s dual policy favouring Muslims and discriminating against the Hindus is disastrous. He added that the State government, which is supporting Dr Zakir Naik’s arrival in Mangaluru, should be questioned against the ban on Dr Praveenbhai Togadia and Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat for the programmes at Bengaluru and Hassan respectively. He demanded that Dakshina Kananda district administration should ban Naik from entering the district.

Togadia in Mangaluru on Jan 6

Mr Pumpwell said a huge convention would be organised on January 6 in Mangaluru. “The convention would concentrate on the ongoing phenomena like cattle slaughter, love jihad and attacks on Hindu activists. The VHP leader Dr Praveenbhai Togadia will deliver the keynote address on the occasion. The coastal district, especially Mangaluru, is a victim of the atrocities against majorities. Hindus here are considered as second grade citizens. In the aftermath of the Congress government coming to power, constant conspiracies are hatched to suppress Hindus, who are made victims of atrocities planned especially to curb them,” he complained.

He also alleged that the State government was supporting the people involved in cattle trafficking. He said the government has also withdrawn the cases registered against the members of the Popular Front of India, which according to him is an anti-national group.

Astrology ban

The Bajrang Dal leader added that the State government’s decision to ban astrology programmes on television channels was totally undemocratic and will hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. “The government is converting police stations into Congress party offices arcos the State. The vote bank politics has deteriorated the values of democracy and the people are deprived of good governance,” said the coordinator, who also condemned the decision to transfer the police official Pramodh in Mangaluru. He said the confidence of the police officials is at stake.

He said Dattamala Abhiyan is being organised at the Chandradrona hillocks in Chikkamagaluru district from December 16 to 24. “As many as 50,000 devotees would wear Dattamala and offer prayers. The Anusuya Pooja will be held on December 22, while a huge procession is organised on December 23. Devotees from across Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Kasargod and Kodagu districts will take part,” he added.

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

News Network

December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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