PUCL urges Governor to sanction prosecution of BSY, Acharya for 'defending violence against minorities'

Mangalore, November 24: People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has urged governor H R Bhardwaj to accord sanction for the prosecution of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, former home minister V S Acharya, and three senior police officers.

PUCL's demand for action is based on what it says is "complicity of Yeddyurappa and Acharya in instigating, encouraging and defending acts of violence against the minorities", leading to repeat of such instances.

PUCL, in a letter to the governor and released to the media here on Wednesday, stated that apart from indulging in corrupt acts, Yeddyurappa and Acharya are liable to be prosecuted for inciting communal violence, injuries to scores of persons, damage to property belonging to minorities and for shielding guilty officers.

The non-action has resulted in recurrence of church attacks and there have been three such incidents in the city in the last month.A People's Tribunal Inquiry, set up under former judge of state High Court M F Saldanha, held an impartial and incisive inquiry into these incidents and to identify the persons responsible for the attacks on Christian prayer halls across Karnataka in general and Dakshina Kannada district in particular during September 2008.

"Saldanha's report clearly holds the state government responsible for atrocities in question," PUCL noted in the letter.The violent incidents in the city, though attributed to pro-Hindu outfits, were committed by state machinery - police and administrative officers. "There is unimpeachable evidence as far as this is concerned and three names stand out - Sathish Kumar, then Superintendent of Police of Dakshina Kannada, Jayanth Shetty, then Circle Police Inspector (now DySP) and M K Ganapathy, Police Inspector.

It is in public interest that action be ordered against these five persons which will also have the necessary deterrent effect. PUCL urged the governor to direct the DGP to order the requisite investigation and to proceed according to Law.PUCL appreciated the firmness with which the governor has dealt with cases of corruption.

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From malls to highways, Kannada signboards to be enforced in Dakshina Kannada

News Network

February 4,2026

Mangaluru: Urban local bodies and gram panchayats should make the use of Kannada on signboards mandatory while issuing trade licences to commercial establishments, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV said. He also called for regular inspections to ensure compliance.

Presiding over the District Kannada Awareness Committee meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office, Darshan said the city corporation would be directed to ensure that shops operating in malls prominently display their names in Kannada. “All commercial establishments, including shops, companies, offices and hotels, must mandatorily display their names in Kannada on signboards,” he said.

The deputy commissioner added that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would be instructed to include Kannada on signboards along national highways. Banks, he said, would be directed through committee meetings to provide application forms in Kannada.

“Even if English-medium schools and colleges impart education in English, their signboards must display the institution’s name in Kannada. Steps will also be taken to ensure that private buses display place names in Kannada,” Darshan said.

During the meeting, committee members raised concerns over the closure of Kannada-medium schools in rural areas due to a shortage of teachers and stressed the need for immediate corrective measures. They also pointed out that several industries employ workers from other states while overlooking local candidates.

Members further demanded that nationalised banks provide deposit and withdrawal slips in Kannada. It was brought to the deputy commissioner’s notice that the presence of staff without knowledge of Kannada in rural branches of nationalised banks is causing hardship to local customers.

Meanwhile, MP Srinath, president of the District Kannada Sahitya Parishat, urged the district administration to allot land for the construction of a district Kannada Bhavana in Mangaluru.

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