How the saffron leaders provoked hate-filled bhatks to vandalize graves at Bababudangiri

coastaldigest.com news network
December 4, 2017

Chikkamagaluru, Dec 4: Clad in saffron, they call themselves the devotees of Sree Guru Dattatreya. But, their action proves that what lies in their heart is mere communal hatred and not devotion. On December 3, the last day of the controversial Datta Janyanti, a three day “religio-political utsav” at the historic Bababudangiri shrine, they showed the world what ‘religion’ and faith meant to them by trying to demolish graves.

In fact the so called devotees were apparently provoked by the hardline Hindutva leaders and politicians belonging to Bharatiya Janata Party. After BJP leader and Chikkamagaluru MLA C T Ravi and others stopped their provocative speeches, some of their bhakts assembled at Bababudangiri attempted to break the barricades and enter the disputed site of holy cave shrine Sree Guru Dattatreya Bababudan Swamy Dargah.

Apart from MLA, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Suryanarayana Rao and Saidatta Raghunatha Guruji were the prime speakers in the programme organised to mark the occasion.

Mr Ravi, who displayed some documents to the audience, claimed that the records proved that the shrine was a Hindu place of worship. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was delaying appropriate action in this regard only to satisfy his party’s vote bank, he alleged, while remarking: “how long should we wait?” “We are fighting for justice and in the Kurukshetra war, only those with truth and justice will win.”

He went on to claim that most of the graves in the disputed site were fake.

Mr Rao called upon the audience to always refer to the shrine as Datta Peetha and stop using the word Bababudangiri. “The State government is making efforts to retain this place as a centre of harmony. We will not let that happen. As in the case of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, I am hopeful that our struggle will soon yield desired results”, he said.

Minutes after these speeches, a few youths barged into the burial ground and attempted to damage tombstones. Before the police could rush to the spot and take control, one of the tombstones was uprooted. The police had to resort to mild lathi-charge.

Reacting to the incident, Mr. Ravi said it was a minor incident expected in a big event. “When thousands of people are gathered, such things do happen. Placing saffron flags have happened in the past as well,” he said.

When it was brought to his notice that the burial ground was targeted for the first time, the MLA maintained there was no intention of uprooting the structures. “If we wanted to damage the structures, why should we do it in the presence of such a large number of policemen?” he argued.

Also Read: Datta Jayanti: Saffron clad bhakts resort to violence at Bababudangiri

Comments

raji
 - 
Tuesday, 5 Dec 2017

@well wisher, first of all i dont think you are muslim, and what you are stating is a way you plan to make brother enemy of brother. hence that is the bigger sin check with any muslim imam and stop doing kafir works please..

Asif UK
 - 
Monday, 4 Dec 2017

I dont understand why SDPI people keep silence for this crime...??????? 

Well Wisher
 - 
Monday, 4 Dec 2017

Dear Bajrangi bhaijans,

 

Islam never promotes idol worshipping. Unfortunately, Dargah worship has become an evil nowadays among so-called muslims. Worshipping other than Allah is an unforgivable sin.  Those who do this & did not ask forgiveness before their death they will do well in hellfire. Dargah & Durga are nothing but the 2 faces of a coin. Worship the creator only.

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News Network
December 4,2025

Udupi: A 40-year-old NRI from Udupi has reportedly lost more than Rs 12.25 lakh in an online investment scam operated through Telegram.

According to a complaint filed at the CEN police station, Leo Jerome Mendonsa, who has been working in Dubai for the past 15 years in computer accessories sales, maintains NRI accounts in Karkala and Nitte.

On November 12, 2025, Mendonsa was added to a Telegram group called Instaflow Earnings by unknown individuals. Users identified as Priya and Dipannita persuaded him to invest in “Revenue Tasks.” Initially, Mendonsa transferred Rs 1,100 multiple times and received the promised returns, encouraging him to continue.

On November 14, another user, Nishmitha Shetty, directed him to register on a website, digitvisionuoce.cc, and invest Rs 4 lakh in various shares. Over the next few days, he made multiple transfers totaling Rs 12,25,000, including Rs 50,000 via Google Pay, believing the scheme was legitimate.

After receiving the money, the alleged handlers stopped responding, and neither the invested amount nor the promised profits were returned.

The CEN police have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigations are ongoing.

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News Network
December 7,2025

SHRIMP.jpg

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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