Ullal terror accused Javed Ali released on bail

June 16, 2011

Mangalore, June 16: Nearly two months after getting bail from Karnataka High Court, an Ullal based youth, who was arrested three years ago by interstate police on terrorism charges, has been finally released on Thursday, June 16, from Bangalore Central Jail located in Parappana Agrahara.

The 22-year-old Javed Ali, was dragged out of his home at Ullal along with his father, Mohammed Ali (60), in a pre-dawn operation carried out by Mumbai Police with the help of Karnataka Anti-Naxal Force and the Dakshina Kannada district Police, on October 3, 2008. After a prolonged hearing High Court had granted bail to Javed Ali on April 18, this year.

He is expected to reach his home town on Friday. However he has to appear for all court proceedings and appear before Ullal police every Sunday between 10 am and 11 am.

One of the prime charges against Javed Ali is that he went to the coastal town of Bhatkal in 2006 with his father to participate in an Indian Mujahideen meeting called by the organisation's alleged founder Riyaz Bhatkal. Javed's counsel Byatha N Jagadeesh argued that even if this were true, he was only a minor at the time of the alleged meeting.

The second allegation was that he gave shelter to Riyaz Bhatkal in his house in the Mukkacheri area of Ullal. Mr Jagadeesh argued that even if this were true, the house was owned by his father and he could not be held responsible for such an act. To the charge that he was found to be in possession of banned literature published by a terrorist organisation, Mr Jagadeesh quoted the recent Supreme Court judgement in the Binayak Sen case and said mere possession of literature does not make a person a member of the terrorist organisation.

To the fourth charge that Javed was a member of the Indian Mujahideen, Mr Jagadeesh argued that a distinction must be made between an active member and a passive member.

Justice AS Pacchapure, who heard the bail plea, found merit in the arguments.

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Campus politics: DKS pushes to restore student elections in Karnataka banned since 1989

News Network

November 26,2025

Bengaluru, Nov 26: Karnataka is taking its first concrete steps towards lifting a three-decade-old ban on student elections in colleges and universities. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced Wednesday that the state government will form a small committee to study the reintroduction of campus polls, a practice halted in 1989 following incidents of violence.

Speaking at a 'Constitution Day' event organised by the Karnataka Congress, Mr. Shivakumar underscored the move's aim: nurturing new political leadership from the grassroots.

"Recently, (Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to me and Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) asking us to think about restarting student elections," Shivakumar stated. "I'm announcing today that we'll form a small committee and seek a report on this."

Student elections were banned in Karnataka in 1989, largely due to concerns over violence and the infiltration of political party affiliates into campus life. The ban effectively extinguished vibrant student bodies and the pipeline of young leaders they often produced.

Mr. Shivakumar, who also serves as the Karnataka Congress president, said that former student leaders will be consulted to "study the pros and cons" of the re-introduction.

Acknowledging the history of the ban, he added, "There were many criminal activities taking place back then. We’ll see how we can conduct (student) elections by regulating such criminal activities."

The Deputy CM reminisced about his own journey, which began on campus. He recalled his political activism at Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya College leading to his first Assembly ticket in 1985 at the age of 23. "That's how student leadership was at the time. Such leadership has gone today. College elections have stopped," he lamented, adding that for many, college elections were "like a big movement" where leaders were forged.

The move, driven by the Congress high command's push to cultivate young talent, will face scrutiny from academics and university authorities who have, in the past, expressed concern that the return of polls could disrupt the peaceful academic environment and turn campuses into political battlegrounds.

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