870 kids below 5 years, underweight in DK district

[email protected] (Naina J A for Deccan Herald )

February 29, 2012

Mangalore, February 29: There are 870 severely underweight children between the age group of zero to five in Dakshina Kannada district.

According to a survey conducted by the department of women and child welfare, there are 393 children suffering from severe underweight between the age group of below three years. This includes 190 boys and 203 girls. Between the age group of three to five, there are 477 kids who weigh below the normal weight, of which, 207 are boys and 270 are girls.

According to sources from Women and Child Welfare department, the severe underweight is due to genetical problem, diseases affecting the kids and malnutrition. The severe underweight is not due to malnutrition alone. Those kids who are severely underweight are given additional nutrition supplement through anganwadi centres. If the kids were found suffering from any diseases, then they are given Rs 750 per year for treatment.

“Just because a child is underweight, it does not mean it is malnourished. Underweight is measured by taking into consideration their height, age and birth weight,” the sources said. The average minimum weight of a child who is three years old is 8.5 kg. The minimum weight for a child between the age group of three to five is 12.5 to 14 kg.

In April, 2011, about 1.90 per cent kids between zero to five years were suffereing from severeunderweight. However, in December 2011, it has been reduced to 0.9 per cent. The severe underweight is highest during May, as many kids do not visit Anganwadi centres. This clearly shows the impact of nutrition supplement given to the kids through anganwadi centres, sources said.

All the children in anganwadi are weighed every month to check the condition of the children attending anganwadi. After the direction from the High Court against the State's apathy towards the issue of malnutrition, the departments of Health and Women and Child Welfare Development swung into action to address the problem, all over the State.

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HC refuses to quash probe against Mangaluru WhatsApp admin over offensive posts

News Network

February 1,2026

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has refused to quash an investigation against a WhatsApp group administrator accused of allowing the circulation of obscene and offensive images depicting Hindutva politicians and idols in 2021.

Justice M Nagaprasanna observed that, prima facie, the ingredients of the offence under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code were made out. “The offence under Section 295A of the IPC is met to every word of its ingredient, albeit prima facie,” the judge said.

The petitioner, Sirajuddin, a resident of Belthangady taluk in Dakshina Kannada district, had challenged the FIR registered against him at the CEN (Cyber, Economics and Narcotics) police station, Mangaluru, for offences under Section 295A of the IPC and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act. Section 295A relates to punishment for deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class of citizens.

According to the complaint filed by K Jayaraj Salian, also a resident of Belthangady taluk, he received a WhatsApp group link from an unknown source and was added to the group after accessing it. The group reportedly had six administrators and around 250 participants, where obscene and offensive images depicting Hindu deities and certain political figures were allegedly circulated repeatedly.

Sirajuddin was arrested in connection with the case and later released on bail on February 16, 2021. He argued before the court that he was being selectively targeted, while other administrators—including the creator of the group—were neither arrested nor investigated. He also contended that the Magistrate could not have taken cognisance of the offence under Section 295A without prior sanction under Section 196(1) of the CrPC.

Rejecting the argument, Justice Nagaprasanna held that prior sanction is required only at the stage of taking cognisance, and not at the stage of registration of the crime or during investigation.

The judge noted that the State had produced the entire investigation material before the court. “A perusal of the material reveals depictions of Hindu deities in an extraordinarily obscene, demeaning and profane manner. The content is such that its reproduction in a judicial order would itself be inappropriate,” the court said, adding that the material, on its face, had the tendency to outrage religious feelings and disturb communal harmony.

Observing that the case was still at the investigation stage, the court said it could not interdict the probe at this juncture. However, it expressed concern that the investigating officer appeared to have not proceeded uniformly against all administrators. The court clarified that if the investigation revealed the active involvement of any member in permitting the circulation of such content, they must also be proceeded against.

“At this investigative stage, any further observation by this Court would be unnecessary,” the order concluded.

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