Dalits demand Pejavar seer's arrest

[email protected] (News Network)
June 14, 2011

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Udupi, June 14: Members of the Karnataka Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (Ambedkar Vada) staged a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here on Monday protesting against the statement of Vishvesha Tirtha swamiji of Pejawar Math on the conversion of 2,000 Dalits into Buddhism.


DSS State unit organising convenor Prakash Byadarahalli said the claim of the swamiji that Buddhism was a part of Hinduism was false. “Buddhism treats everyone equally and emphasises on cooperative living,” he said.


Casteism was rampant in Hinduism. There were nearly 6,700 cases of atrocities on Dalits in the State but action had not been taken on these cases and the guilty were roaming free. The Pejawar seer could not digest the fact that 2,000 Dalits embraced Buddhism in Udupi on May 24.


His statement that untouchability could not be eradicated by Dalits embracing Buddhism pointed to his disappointment and cynicism. It reflected the bankruptcy of the priestly class, Mr. Byadarahalli said.


In a memorandum addressed to Governor H.R. Bhardwaj and submitted at the Deputy Commissioner's Office, the DSS said the Pejawar seer should accept the fact that the Dalits were not Hindus since ancient times. He should explain how the Dalits were Hindus and why they should stay with Hinduism. The incidents at Chandragutti and Savadatti, which took place a couple of decades ago, showed how a religion could behave with its adherents. The seer should first put an end to the social evil of 'Devadasi' system. Then the seer could take up the issue of giving “Deekshe” to the Dalits.


Conversion was a right given by the Constitution. India was a secular country which treated all religions equally. The Dalits need not take lessons on religion from the Pejawar seer.


The Pejawar seer's statement that casteism could not be wiped out was unconstitutional and a provocation to disrupt social harmony. The Government should take legal action against the swamiji under the Untouchability (Offences) Act, the memorandum added.


DSS leaders Hovappa Master, Shyamraj Birti, and T. Manjunath Giliyaru were present.

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News Network
December 4,2025

Udupi: A 40-year-old NRI from Udupi has reportedly lost more than Rs 12.25 lakh in an online investment scam operated through Telegram.

According to a complaint filed at the CEN police station, Leo Jerome Mendonsa, who has been working in Dubai for the past 15 years in computer accessories sales, maintains NRI accounts in Karkala and Nitte.

On November 12, 2025, Mendonsa was added to a Telegram group called Instaflow Earnings by unknown individuals. Users identified as Priya and Dipannita persuaded him to invest in “Revenue Tasks.” Initially, Mendonsa transferred Rs 1,100 multiple times and received the promised returns, encouraging him to continue.

On November 14, another user, Nishmitha Shetty, directed him to register on a website, digitvisionuoce.cc, and invest Rs 4 lakh in various shares. Over the next few days, he made multiple transfers totaling Rs 12,25,000, including Rs 50,000 via Google Pay, believing the scheme was legitimate.

After receiving the money, the alleged handlers stopped responding, and neither the invested amount nor the promised profits were returned.

The CEN police have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigations are ongoing.

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News Network
December 1,2025

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Udupi, Dec 1: A horrific case of alleged rape has unfolded in Udupi, where a worker from a Hindutva organisation, previously arrested and released on bail for harassing a young woman, is now accused of waylaying and sexually assaulting her.

The arrested individual has been identified as Pradeep Poojary (26), a member of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike's Nairkode unit in Perdur.

Poojary had allegedly been relentlessly harassing the young woman, pressuring her to marry him. When she bravely stood up to him and refused his demands, she filed a formal complaint at the Hiriyadka police station. He was subsequently arrested in that initial harassment case but was later granted bail.

According to police reports, driven by the same malicious grudge, Poojary allegedly intercepted the woman again on November 29. While she was walking through a deserted area, the accused is claimed to have threatened her by grabbing her neck. When she again refused to marry him, he allegedly proceeded to rape her.

The survivor immediately informed her family about the traumatic assault. Following this, her parents lodged a complaint at the Udupi women’s police station.

Police arrested Poojary again and produced him before the court. He has since been remanded to judicial custody.

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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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