Communal tension grips Thirthahalli after Nandita's death in Manipal: BJP-led protest turns violent

November 2, 2014

Thirthahalli, Nov 2: A tense atmosphere prevailed in Thirthahalli twon of Shivamogga district following the death of Nandita, a class 8 student, who allegedly consumed poison under mysterious circumstances earlier this week.

14-year-old girl breathed her last at a hospital in Manipal on October 31. Even though the case remained mysterious, the incident led to undeclared shutdown of the town on Saturday. People closed down the shops voluntarily in protest against the incident.

BJP activists resorted to protest after a rumour of abduction and rape of the girl by three members began to spread in the town. Led by former MLA Araga Jnanendra, hundreds of BJP activists staged a massive demonstration in the town demanding the arrest of the accused.

When the girl's body was brought from Manipal, thousands of people took it out in a procession for the funeral.

During the procession, some miscreants threw stones at shops belonging to another community. There were heated arguments between the police and the people. To bring the situation under control, police caned the troublemakers.

It is not yet confirmed whether the 14-year-old girl was raped. Superintendent of Police Kaushlendra Kumar said the girl had not mentioned rape in the complaint. “So, a case of rape has not been registered. Three special teams have been formed to apprehend the culprits. We have already interrogated some youths in the town but are yet to make arrests,” he said.

Two versions

According to local sources the girl consumed poison after being caught by moral police while being in company of a male friend belonging to a different community. It is said that on October 29, instead of going to school the girl board a car belonging to her male friend. She was caught by local residents at Anandagiri hills near Thirthahalli. She consumed poison in the evening unable to bear humiliation.

Another version says that the girl was kidnapped by three men in a car while she was waiting for bus to go to school. The kidnappers allegedly raped her and poisoned her before dumping her at Anandagiri hills.

In the evening the girl started vomiting. The girl was then taken to the JC hospital in the town and later to the McGann Hospital in Shimoga. But doctors there advised that she be taken to the KMC Hospital in Manipal where she died on Friday.

The girl was a class 8 student at the government high school here. Based on a complaint lodged by her father, police have registered a case of murder, sexual harassment and kidnap under the relevant sections of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, 2012.

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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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