Muslim woman accuses Bajrang Dal of forcing conversion; urges IGP to take action

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Savitha B.R)
July 19, 2011
Mangalore, July 19: A married Muslim woman, who was allegedly forced to convert to Hinduism recently, approached Inspector General of Police (Western Range) on Tuesday and sought protection from Bajrang Dal and demanded action against the culprits.

The conversion of Bushra and her husband Jaffar along with their four little children at Saralebettu Shivapadi Sri Umamaheshwari Temple near Manipal of Udupi district on July 14, had hit the headlines.

However, Bushra, who has now apparently fled husband's house, accused the Bajrang Dal activists of harassing her physically and mentally and threatening to kill her and her children if she continued to remain a Muslim woman.

IGP Alok Mohan has assured the woman of taking stringent action against the accused after a thorough investigation into the case.

Bushra, daughter of late Ibrahim AK alias Ibba from Valachchil near Adyar, had married Jaffar eight years ago, as per the Muslim tradition. Jaffar, a driver, who was in love with Bushra, had converted to Islam a few weeks before the marriage.

The couple has been leading a normal life and rewarded with four children namely Iqbal (4), Irfan (3), Fathima Yasmeen (2) and Jalauddeen (one and a half month).

In the recent years, Jaffar, whose earlier name was Prashant Shetty, had developed friendship with Bajrang Dal activists and had shifted his house from Adyar Kannur to Sunkakatte in Udupi nearly three months ago, against the wish of his wife.

Bushra, in her complaint, said that she was preparing food for her children on July 14 when a group of Bajrang Dal activists stormed into their house and forcefully took the entire family to a temple.

“When I protested, they threatened me to kill my children if I failed to act according to their wish,” she said in her complaint.

She also accused the priest of the temple of disregarding her plea and forced her to accept Hinduism. The priest continued 'Pravartan' (conversion) rituals without paying attention to my pleadings, she said.

“Although I became silent in the temple, fearing that Bajrang Dal activists may kill my children, I did not accept Hinduism and I am still a Muslim,” she said adding that the rumours and false reports that she had been converted to Hinduism had deeply hurt her.

Harassment

Bushra told the IGP that a Bajrang Dal activist identified as Manohar, harassed her physically and mentally with the support of her husband, after shifting to the new house.

She said that her husband continued to allow Manohar in the house during nights, despite knowing that he was trying to seduce her and inviting her for sex.

Divorce

Bushra said that she has left her husband's house for ever along with her four children after undergoing the agony.

“I cannot lead life with my husband anymore. I want a divorce from him,” she said.

Threat

Bushra also said that the Bajrang Dal goons have threatened her against approaching the police. She urged the IGP to inquire her case in Dakshina Kannada, as she fears to go to Udupi.


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News Network
December 3,2025

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Mangaluru, Dec 3: A group of Congress workers gathered at the Mangaluru International Airport on Wednesday to welcome AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, but the reception quickly turned into a display of support for Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

Venugopal arrived in the city to participate in the centenary commemoration of the historic dialogue between Mahatma Gandhi and Narayana Guru. The event, organised by the Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala, in association with the Mangalore University Sri Narayana Guru Study Chair, is being held on the university’s Konaje campus.

KPCC general secretary Mithun Rai and several party workers had assembled at the airport to receive Venugopal. However, the moment he stepped out, workers began raising slogans backing Shivakumar.

The university programme will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

This show of support comes just a day after Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar would lead the government “when the high command decides.” The chief minister made the comment after a breakfast meeting at Shivakumar’s residence—another public display of camaraderie between the two leaders amid ongoing attempts by the party high command to downplay their leadership rivalry.

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News Network
November 26,2025

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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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News Network
November 28,2025

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Mangaluru, Nov 28: Karnataka Health Minister and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Friday handed over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the severe distress faced by farmers due to crashing crop prices.

PM Modi arrived at the Mangaluru International Airport en route to Udupi, where Gundu Rao welcomed him and submitted the letter. The chief minister’s message stressed that farmers are suffering heavy losses because maize and green gram are being bought far below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The state urged the Centre to immediately begin procurement at MSP.

According to the letter, Karnataka has a bumper harvest this year—over 54.74 lakh metric tons of maize and 1.98 lakh metric tons of green gram—yet farmers are unable to secure fair prices. Against the MSP of ₹2,400/MT for maize and ₹8,768/MT for green gram, market rates have plunged to ₹1,600–₹1,800 and ₹5,400 respectively.

The chief minister has requested the Centre to:

• Direct NAFED, FCI and NCCF to start MSP procurement immediately.
• Ensure ethanol units purchase maize directly from farmers or FPOs.
• Increase Karnataka’s ethanol allocation, citing high production capacity.
• Stop maize imports, which have depressed domestic prices.
• Relax quality norms for green gram, allowing up to 10% discoloration due to rains.

The letter stresses that MSP is crucial for farmer dignity and income stability and calls for swift central intervention to prevent a deepening crisis.

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