Jayaprakash seeks extension of night train to Karwar

Udupi, July 24: K. Jayaprakash Hegde, Udupi-Chikmagalur MP, said on Monday that he had urged the Chairman of the Railway Board to extend the Bangalore-Mangalore night train to Karwar.

He was speaking at the programme “Jago Sansad Jago” organised by the Udupi Consumers' Forum, here.

Replying to a query by the president of Udupi Railway Yatri Sangha, Mr. Hegde said that he had provided all the details on the issue of extension of the night train to Kawar to the Railway Board. The Board would soon seek a report from the railway officers on this issue.

“It is necessary to first impress the officials about these needs before approaching the Minister. All efforts are on to get the train extended to Karwar,” he said.

R.N. Dias, president of Udupi Railway Yatri Sangha, urged Mr. Hegde to put pressure on the Union Railways Ministry to provide a halt to Kochuveli-Dehra Dun Express, Kochuveli-Amritsar Express, and Pune-Ernakulum Express at the Udupi railway station.

The president of Udupi district unit of Kannada Sahitya Parishath Neelawar Surendra Adiga urged Mr. Hegde to impress upon the Union Government to bring a national language policy as this might help in protecting Kannada medium schools. In response, Mr. Hegde said that a measured response was required for the problem, he said.

In response to another question, Mr. Hegde said that it was necessary to expedite the pace of the Varahi Irrigation Project in Udupi district. Salt water prevention vented dams should be constructed for all rivers in the district to prevent salinity in water.

Trustee of Udupi Consumers' Forum H. Shantharaj Aithal pointed out that as per Consumer Protection Act, 1986, the offices of Union Government such as Railways, Posts, and Regional Passport Office should give a representation to at least one representative of Consumers' Forum or voluntary organisations in their offices. But this was not being followed, he said.

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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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