BJP MLAs in touch with us, but we’ll not conduct any operation, says Mahesh

TNN

June 4, 2019

Mysuru, Jun 4: Senior JD(S) leader and Karnataka tourism minister SR Mahesh on Monday pointed out that discontent was simmering not only in the parties of the ruling coalition, but also in the BJP. “MLAs from the BJP have communicated with leaders in the JD(S). But we will not launch any operation to rope them into our party fold,” said Mahesh, adding that there was no need for the JD(S) to engage in such an exercise.

The minister claimed that the BJP was not a united house as was being projected by the leaders of the party. “The party has 105 members in the assembly, and there are differences within the BJP. But we will not exploit it for our needs,” Mahesh added.

Amid speculations of JD(S) Karnataka president Adagooru H Vishwanath tendering his resignation to the post, Mahesh said that the party leaders would make all efforts to prevent such a possibility. “Vishwanath is a senior leader, with enormous experience. He must guide us, and help organise our party,” Mahesh said.

The tourism minister pointed out that Vishwanath had offered to resign as JD(S) state president twice before, but owing to health problems. “But we dissuaded him from doing so. This time round, he is keen on resigning owing to personal reasons,” said Mahesh.

The minister said that chief minister HD Kumaraswamy had convened a meeting of all the legislators of the JD(S) in Bengaluru on Tuesday. “We will convince Vishwanath not to tender his resignation. The party’s general secretary will also be appointed at the meeting,” he added.

Mahesh, also the district in-charge minister for Kodagu, scotched rumours of the state government ordering resorts and homestays in the hilly district to stay shut as a precautionary measure before the onset of the monsoon season. “The Makkandur gram panchayat banned advance booking within its jurisdiction. The state government, however, has issued no such order, nor has the Kodagu district administration,” he said.

Nikhil Kumaraswamy, the CM’s son, Mahesh said, would accompany his father during the village stay programme planned in Mandya. “I welcome the CM for a sojourn in a Kodagu village as part of his initiative,” the minister added.

Mahesh, meanwhile, said that relocation of Harangi Dam, a demand made by locals in Kodagu district, was not a viable option. “But we will try our best to solve their problems,” he said.

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Mangaluru NRI returning from Saudi Arabia arrested over Instagram post

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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Think Before You Post! Mangaluru Police Crack Down on Provocative Instagram Accounts

News Network

December 5,2025

Mangaluru: In a significant step to curb online hate and intimidation, Mangaluru City Police have registered a suo motu case against multiple Instagram accounts accused of circulating alleged provocative and threatening content.

While monitoring social media activity on Tuesday, Kankanady Town PSI Anitha Nikkam identified the Instagram handle ‘team_targetttt_900’ for posting a hate message alongside images of lethal weapons. Another account, ‘team_nagara_900’, allegedly shared a threatening post targeting activist Bharath Kumdelu, tagging additional pages such as KARAVALI-OFFICIAL.

Several other accounts — including ‘immu_bhai.fan’, ‘target_boy_900’, ‘kings_of_manglore’, ‘team_target_boys.900’, ‘arshad_mangalore’, ‘target_ka19_ullal’, ‘team_target__’, ‘troll_tigersz_900’, ‘tr_group_900’, and ‘team_target_900’ — are also under scrutiny for spreading similar inflammatory material, police said.

Authorities have urged citizens, especially young social media users, to report suspicious pages and avoid engaging with groups that glorify violence or threaten individuals. Online hate can quickly escalate into real-world harm, and police stress that sharing or promoting such content can attract legal consequences.

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