Rathnagiri assault: Malpe fishermen boycott fishing, take to streets

February 22, 2012

Malpe, February 22: Former President of Mogaveera Mahajana Sangha and Udupi Block Congress Committee President Pramod Madhwaraj, on Wednesday, assured the fishermen holding dharna protesting against the assault on them by the fishermen of Rathnagiri in Mumbai on Feb 19, to take a delegation to Maharashtra to demand for action against the culprits and to prevent similar incidents in future.

Hundreds of fishermen working in deep sea trawl boats, under the banner of Tandelara Sangha, on Wednesday boycotted fishing and held a dharna at Malpe port to protest against the torture on some of their cologues by the fishermen of Rathnagiri in Maharashtra.

On Feb 19, fishermen of Rathnagiri, working in persene boats named Al Naveed, Multhanian, S Abbas, Marian and Ameen had assauted the Malpe based fishermen working on board of deep sea trawl boats Jaladeeksha, Jalaraksha, Durgamaayi, Shravan, Rajadeep, Seaphone, Seafala, Sannidhi and Durg Devi, in the deep sea, 25 nautical mile from the Rathnagiri coast. They had also threatened by showing lethal weapons and looted the fishermen of their fish catch, cash, mobile phones, GPS instruments, fish finders and wireless equipments.

President of the Tandelara Sangha Shashidhar Amin in his address demanded action against the culprits in Rathnagiri and threatened to call for an indefinite deep sea fishing bandh if their lawful demands were not met. He said that the Malpe fishermen were lawfully fishing in the deep sea, 25 nautical miles away from the Rathnagiri coast, whereas the law permits fishing by outside fishermen even up to 12 nautical miles away from the local shore.

District BJP President Uday Kumar Shetty,, its former President Ravi Salian, founder President of Mogaveera Yuva Sanghatane Sathish Amin Padukare and others participated in the dharna.

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Respiratory illnesses rise in Karnataka’s capital as air quality deteriorates

News Network

February 5,2026

Bengaluru: As air quality continues to worsen across several parts of the city, hospitals in Bengaluru are reporting a steady rise in patients suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), health officials and doctors said.

Data from the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) shows that 3,891 patients received treatment for respiratory ailments between April and November 2024. The figure rose to 4,187 during the same period in 2025.

Private hospitals, too, are witnessing a 10–15 per cent year-on-year increase in such cases.

While doctors caution that the rise cannot be attributed solely to air pollution, a significant number of patients are non-smokers with no prior history of respiratory disease.

“Nearly 70 per cent of the patients we see are non-smokers with no previous respiratory issues. When other causes are ruled out, air pollution emerges as the most likely factor,” said Dr Manjunath PH, consultant interventional pulmonologist at a hospital in Kengeri.

Doctors noted that patient footfall spikes during the winter months and around Deepavali, when air quality typically worsens.

“There is a clear correlation between poor air quality and the rise in cases. People commonly present with persistent cough, breathlessness and irritation of the respiratory tract, indicating the impact of polluted air on their health,” said Dr Sheetal Chaurasia, consultant in pulmonary medicine at a private hospital in Whitefield.

Dr Chaurasia added that respiratory tract infections are also on the rise.

“Poor air quality leads to chronic airway inflammation, making the airways more vulnerable to infections. We are seeing an increase in both upper and lower respiratory tract infections,” she said.

Patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions remain the worst affected.

“For those already diagnosed with respiratory illnesses, deteriorating air quality significantly worsens the condition. Both the frequency and severity of attacks increase sharply,” said Dr Vandana P, a pulmonologist at a hospital on Bannerghatta Road.

Doctors also flagged a worrying trend of rising respiratory problems among younger adults and children.

To reduce exposure, they advised people to wear masks while travelling on two-wheelers or autos and ensure adequate ventilation at home to minimise indoor air pollution.

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