Can Congress quell rebellion in Tumakuru?

News Network

March 27, 2019

Bengaluru, Mar 27: To quell rebellion in the Tumakuru Lok Sabha constituency, where incumbent Congress MP S.P. Muddahanume Gowda is on a collision course with the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, the Congress has started making efforts to persuade the former to withdraw his nomination.

Defying his party’s decision to cede candidature in the constituency to the JD(S), the Congress MP filed his nomination papers on Monday, the same day when Mr. Deve Gowda filed his. Another former Congress MLA, K.N. Rajanna, has also filed nomination for the seat.

“We will speak to both Mr. Rajanna and Mr. Muddahanume Gowda. We are confident the issue will be resolved amicably,” said Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday.

He dismissed the argument that Mr. Deve Gowda had opted out of contesting from Bengaluru North as he was worried he would not get the support of Congress MLAs as they are confidants of the former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Mr. Siddaramaiah, who went live on Twitter on Tuesday, also admitted that the Congress was facing trouble in Mandya, Tumakuru and Hassan. “We will solve this issue. We are speaking to our party workers to ensure transfer of votes. We are also trying to persuade those who are opposing the alliance,” he said.

Replying to a question on why the party ceded Mandya and Tumakuru seats to the JD(S), he said Tumakuru had to be parted with as the Congress stood a good chance of winning in Mysuru.

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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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