Mangaluru is a peaceful city; media focusing only on negative things: Top cop

coastaldigest.com news network
January 20, 2018

Mangaluru, Jan 20: Though the crime rate in Mangaluru is very less compared to other prominent cities of India, the coastal Karnataka’s port city is being defamed by certain vested interests through mass media and social media for reasons better known to themselves, said T R Suresh, the Commissioner of Mangaluru City Police.

Speaking at an interaction programme organized by the Bearys Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) at Hotel Ocean Pearl in the city on Friday, the top cop said the reaction of Hindu and Muslim communities in general following the recent coldblooded murders Deepak Rao and Ahmed Basheer – two innocent members of respective communities – has once again proved that Mangalureans are peace lovers and not communals.

Reiterating that Mangaluru is one of the best places to live in India, he said that the contributions of coastal district of Dakshina Kannada district towards education, banking and tourism sectors are remarkable. “People from across the state, country and other parts of the world come here seeking better education and health care. There are over two lakh students in the city. Almost half of Kerala is dependent on this city for various reasons,” he pointed.

“In spite of all these positive aspects, mass media and social media are focusing only on negative things and blowing the trivial issues and sporadic untoward incidents out of proportion,” Mr Suresh added.

He said that 99% of people in Mangaluru are peace lovers while very small number of people are indulging in anti-social activities. The police have been relentlessly trying to make Mangaluru a peaceful city by curbing rowdysim and drug menace. However, false rumours being spread through social media including WhatsApp groups destroying peace, he lamented.

He also warned stringent action against those who spread inflammatory messages and rumors on social media. “Some WhatsApp group admis that post provocative messages are not in the county. They operate from abroad. It is not easy to catch them immediately. Hence, we take immediate action against those who circulate such messages here,” he said.

Y Abdulla Kunhi, Vice Chancellor of Yenepoya University, speaking on the occasion, pointed out that Mangaluru had ranked as 48th best city in the world in terms of quality of life and ranked 12th in terms of health care in a recent international survey. However, recent untoward incidents and communal clashes have dented the image of the city. This has also affected business in the region. Hence, there is a need to put an end to communal goondaism in the region, he said.

BCCI president S M Rasheed Haji welcomed and presided over the function. BCCI vice president Abdul Rauoof Puthige read out the memorandum that was handed over to the city police chief. DK Wakf Advisory Committee chief Kanchur Monu, DK and Udupi Muslim Central Committee chief KS Mohammed Masood, BCCI general secretary Mohammed Imthiyaz were present among others.

Comments

Vinod
 - 
Saturday, 20 Jan 2018

Recently I saw one article, which says one lady sit middle of public without any reaction and provoded many object (includes soft flower to sharp edged knife) and ask public to do whatever they want. First people hesitated. People started with flower and later many people enjoyed her nudity. Some other tortured with knife and some people torned her cloth and touched evrywhere. She told she felt like brutally raping during that.
The point is - It is not the probelm with media. Problems with people only. They are too negative and if they are getting chances, they will utilise maximum. 

George
 - 
Saturday, 20 Jan 2018

I agree with Danish. 100% truth. Everything is business and they all have to survive.. so people' mentality should change

Danish
 - 
Saturday, 20 Jan 2018

Why media giving more importance to crimes..?

 

Media feeding whatever people want. Actually its not the problem with media. Its with people. If media giving coverage to only development things and good news, then the readership becomes less. and it end up in closing of that particular media org.

 

Mohan
 - 
Saturday, 20 Jan 2018

True.. Well said sir. Should control some media

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News Network
December 2,2025

A major upgrade in safety and monitoring is planned for Haj 2026, with every Indian pilgrim set to receive a Haj Suvidha smart wristband linked to the official Haj Suvidha mobile app. The initiative aims to support pilgrims—especially senior citizens—who may struggle with smartphones during the 45-day journey.

What the Smart Wristband Will Do

Officials said the device will come with:
•    Location tracking
•    Pedometer
•    SOS emergency button
•    Qibla compass
•    Prayer timings
•    Basic health monitoring

SP Tiwari, secretary of the UP State Haj Committee, said the goal is to make the pilgrimage safer and more comfortable.

“Most Hajis are elderly and not comfortable with mobile apps,” he said. “The smartwatch will help locate pilgrims who forget their way or cannot communicate their location.”

The wristbands will be monitored by the Consulate General of India in Saudi Arabia, similar to mobile tracking via the Haj Suvidha App.

Free Distribution and Training

•    Smart wristbands will be given free of cost.
•    Training for pilgrims will be conducted between January and February 2026.
•    Sample units will reach state Haj committees soon.
•    Final devices will be distributed as pilgrims begin their journey.

New Rules for Accommodation

Two major decisions have also been finalised for Haj 2026:
1.    Separate rooms for men and women – including married couples. They may stay on the same floor but must occupy different rooms, following stricter Saudi guidelines.
2.    Cooking banned – gas cylinders will not be allowed; all meals will be provided through official catering services arranged by the Haj Committee of India.

These decisions were finalised during a meeting of the Haj Committee of India and state representatives in Mumbai.

Haj Suvidha App Launched Earlier

The government launched the Haj Suvidha App in 2024, offering:

•    Training modules
•    Accommodation and flight details
•    Baggage information
•    SOS and translation tools
•    Grievance redressal

Haj 2026 Quota and Key States

•    India’s total Haj quota for 2026: 1,75,025 pilgrims
•    70% (1,25,000) allotted to the Haj Committee of India
•    30% (around 50,000) reserved for Haj Group Organisers

Uttar Pradesh has the largest allocation (around 30,000 seats), though approximately 18,000 pilgrims are expected to go this year. States with high pilgrim numbers include Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Dates of Haj 2026

The pilgrimage is scheduled to take place from 24 May to 29 May, 2026 (tentative).
Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is mandatory for Muslims who meet the required conditions.

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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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News Network
November 26,2025

Mangaluru, Nov 26: Assembly Speaker and local MLA U.T. Khader has initiated a high-level push to resolve one of Mangaluru’s longest-standing traffic headaches: the narrow, high-density stretch of National Highway-66 between Nanthoor and Talapady.

He announced on Tuesday that a formal proposal has been submitted to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) seeking approval to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the widening of this crucial corridor.

The plan specifically aims to expand the existing 45-meter road width to a full 60 meters, coupled with the construction of dedicated service roads. Khader highlighted that land for a 60-meter highway was originally acquired during the initial four-laning project, but only 45 meters were developed, leading to a perpetual bottleneck.

"With vehicle density rising sharply, the expansion has become unavoidable," Khader stated, stressing that the upgrade is essential for ensuring smoother traffic flow and improving safety at the city's main entry and exit points.

The stretch between Nanthoor and Talapady is a vital link on the busy Kochi-Panvel coastal highway and connects to major city junctions. The move to utilize the previously acquired land for the full 60-meter width is seen as a necessary measure to catch up with the region's rapid vehicular growth and prevent further traffic gridlocks.

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