Dalits flay police for labelling Vaittal as naxal

April 1, 2012
Mangalore, April 2: Dalitha Hakkugala Horata Samiti, Belthangady taluk president Shekhar l took police to task for labelling Dalit student Vittal Malekudiaya as a naxal supporter in the absence of proper evidence.

At the SC/ST monthly grievance meeting organized at the old commissioner office meeting hall on Sunday, he sought the status of the complaint lodged by one Ishwari against the circle inspector of Belthangady police station as he had verbally abused her when she stepped into the police station seeking justice.

Responding to this, SP Abhishek Goyal said no action has been taken due to lack of proper witnesses. On what grounds was the only graduate from Malekudiya community , Vittala Malekudiya arrested? Shekhar questioned . Is it wrong on the part of a person to store sugar, tea powder and other rations in his home? .The Anti Naxal Force (ANF)has traced only ration items and a book pertaining to the biography of freedom fighter Bhagath Singh.

How can they claim that Vittala was a strong supporter of Naxalites? He questioned, alleging that Anti Naxal Force had put Vitalla Malekudiya's name in the Naxalites list only to receive funds from the government. Responding to that, SP Abhishek Goyal said the ANF and Poilce department were two separate entities. ANF had arrested Vittala Malekudiya and handed him over to Belthangady police station. Blaming the police Department for the same is not fair as the district police is not connected to this at all. Whether he was a Naxal supporter or not will be decided by the court, he said.

The Police did not allow Vittala's mother to talk to him when he was in police custody, saying a court order was needed.

When Dalit leaders claimed that their life had worsened after the entry of the ANF team , SP Abhishek Goyal questioned Dalits about whether there were Naxalites in the Belthangady region or not.

Irked over the question ,Shekhar L said only the Police Department should answer such questions and not the public. If the SP is not able to answer the question , he should step down , he opined. Immediately ASP Prabhakar got up and warned him not to make such comments.
Though some leaders stood in favour of Shekhar many Dalit leaders said there were other issues that needed to be discussed and Vittala's arrest should be discussed separately.

Later, Dalit leaders placed some of their grievances at the meeting and received answers from the department. Civil Rights Enforcement cell (CREC) SP Sarvotham Pai and others were present at the meeting.

Complaints should be given FIR copy

Whether it is an atrocity case or any other case, a copy of the First Investigation Report should be given to each complainant. Every police station should follow this procedure, said Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh here on Sunday.

He was speaking at the SC/ST monthly grievance meeting at the Commissioner's Office.

When Dalith leader M A Naik revealed that Moodbidri police station had not provided a First Investigation Report copy to a complainant, Singh said the complainant should know the status of his case and police stations should instil confidence in the complainant by doing justice and give him a copy of the FIR.

Another Dalit leader, Vittal VB revealed that traffic police constable Jithin Kumar had collected Rs 1000 from him without giving him a receipt. Hearing this Seemanth Kumar Singh questioned why he had paid the constable such a huge amount without getting a receipt. He promised to inquire about the incident.

DSS district convener SP Anand alleged that a sub inspector at Mangalore South Police station threatened a dalith woman not to enter the station in future. However , when the Commissioner asked the particular sub inspector , she rubbished the complaint.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

•    Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

•    STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

•    Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

•    Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

•    State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

•    Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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