Muslim groups decry ‘murderous politics’, urge people to defeat communalism

coastaldigest.com news network

January 12, 2018

Mangaluru, Jan 12: Thousands of Muslims from across Dakshina Kannada district on Friday converged at Nehru Maidan in the city to register their protest against the recent coldblooded murders of elderly Muslim man Ahmed Basheer and Hindu youth Deepak Rao.

Most of the speakers at the condolence-cum-protest meet jointly organised by various local Muslim groups decried the Sangh Parivar and communal outfits for “playing political games over dead bodies of innocent Hindus and Muslims” ahead of looming Karnataka assembly polls.

Deepak and Basheer were attacked by two separate gangs on January 3 at Katipalla and Kottara Chowki. The former died on the spot while the latter breathed his last at a hospital on January 7. Police have already arrested the alleged murderers in both cases.

Addressing the gathering at protest meet, Haji Hameed Kandak, a local Muslim leader, said that the police should unmask the masterminds behind the murders. “Police have only arrested those who committed the murders. But, those who planned the murders to create communal unrest and gain political mileage have not yet been arrested,” he lamented.

He urged the people of all the communities to get united and defeat those who try to create divide between the followers of different faiths. “We don’t need to hold swords to fight the anti-social elements. Our unity is their defeat,” he added.

S B Darimi, Khateeb of Puttur Juma Masjid, said that Muslims do not expect appeasement from the government. “It’s the duty of government to empower Muslims economically, socially and politically. Appeasement is of no use,” he said.

Dinesh Hegde Ulepady, advocate and human rights activist, said that communal harmony is the need of the hour in coastal Karnataka. “Communal goons have no religion. They are enemies of their own community and religion. Hence all should oppose them,” he added.

Yasir Hasan from PFI, Rafeeuddin Kudroli from Uniwef, former Mangaluru mayor K Ashraf and DK wakf panel chief Kanachur Monu also spoke on the occasion. Slain Basheer’s son Ibrahim, Mangaluru North MLA Mohiuddin Bava, Shafi Bellare and Suhel Kandak were present among others.

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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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