Discrimination by police in Ulaibettu clash and subsequent unrest, alleges PFI

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Suresh)

December 14, 2014

Mangaluru, Dec 14: Alleging that the police department had showed discrimination against the minorities in the recent Ulaibettu clash and unrest, the district unit of Popular Front of India has urged for the state government's intervention in this regard.

Speaking to mediapersons at a press conference here, PFI district A M Ataullah alleged that the police had failed to control the communal clashes and also provide protection to minorities.

Condemning the incidents that sparked a major clash among the locals belonging to two communities at Ulaibettu, he alleged that the clash started when devotees in a vehicles and two motorbikes began provoking members of the Muslim community by using derogatory words while passing through the area and also throwing stones at a roadside store owned by a Muslim. However, the retaliation by Muslims and attacks on the devotees should also be condemned, he said, noting that the clashes should not have taken place.

Questioning the discriminatory policy of the police, he said that the police had raided 18 homes belonging to Muslims while saffron organisations had raided six homes targeting Muslims. After taking 29 Muslims into custody, the police had then released four Imams and two local Congress leaders from custody. A minor accused was released from judicial custody. The police have not registered an FIR filed by Muslim women in connection with assaults on them by the police. Although a case has been filed against six local Hindutva leaders under IPC Section 353 in connection with assaulting the police during a protest march following the clash, the accused have not been arrested by the police. This is discrimination by the police, he alleged.

PFI district committee member Haneef Katipalla, Abdul Majeed, Aboobaker Vamanjoor and Abdul Khader were present in the press conference.

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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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