Kodagu youth petition chief secretary against Tipu Jayanti

Bengaluru, Nov 5: A group of youth from Kodagu on Friday submitted a memorandum to Chief Secretary Subhash Chandra Khuntia, urging him that the state government should not celebrate Tipu Jayanti on November 10.

Youth led by K P Manjunath, who had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Karnataka High Court challenging the government's move, told the chief secretary that Tipu Jayanti should not be celebrated in the interest of maintaining peace in the state. It also hurts the sentiments of people of Kodagu, he added. The petitioner approached the chief secretary following a direction from the high court on Thursday. Though the high court disposed of the petition, it directed the petitioner to make a representation to the chief secretary in this regard. Khuntia has to pass an order by November 8.

Manjunath, in his seven-page memorandum, has said that Tipu Sultan and his father Hyder Ali had killed more than 80,000 Kodavas and forced thousands of people to convert to Islam. Kodagu district witnessed violence last year because of the government's decision to celebrate Tipu Jayanti, despite protests. Two people were killed because of the adamant government, he charged.

Low-key affair

Minister for Planning and Statistics, M R Seetharam, who is Kodagu district in-charge said Tipu Jayanti will be celebrated on a low-key in the state, particularly in Kodagu, on November 10. Directions have been issued to ensure law and order. “Just because some people are opposing Tipu Jayanti, the government cannot stop it. The decision to celebrate Tipu Jayanti was taken last year and it will be held this year also,” Seetharam said reacting to stiff opposition from the BJP to the government's decision.'

Revered by many'

He said a section of people in Kodagu may not like Tipu Sultan. But a large number of people in Mysuru and Mandya districts revere him. “Tipu Jayanti is like any other Jayanti of well-known personalities. We have asked the BJP and other organisations in Kodagu not to do anything that would create law and order problem,” he added.

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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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