Karwar bandh over schoolgirl's mysterious death peaceful

May 20, 2012

Karwar, May 20: A bandh called by various organisations in Karwar on Saturday to protest against the alleged police inaction and the delay in the investigation of the death of Vinanti Salgaonkar, a class 9 student, passed off peacefully, with no untoward incident being reported from any part of the city.

The protesters went ahead with the bandh plan despite pleas against it by Anand Asnotikar, Minister for Fisheries, Science and Technology.

Vinanti's parents and some organisations have been seeking a fresh inquiry into the reasons for her death. They stated that it was a case of murder. However, the police claim that Vinanti set herself ablaze.

Vinanti was found with burns in her in home about three months ago. After battling for life for a few days in a hospital in Goa, she succumbed to burns. Following investigations, the police said that it appeared to be a case of suicide. But, they are still waiting for the report from the forensic laboratory from Hyderabad to reach a conclusion.

But the relatives and local people gave a bandh call ignoring the request of the Superintendent of Police to wait till two more reports from the forensic laboratory were received.

Shops and business establishments remained closed and autorickshaws were off the road. Banks and government offices functioned as usual while KSRTC buses plied as usual. Tight security was made in sensitive areas of Karwar.

A procession was taken out and a memorandum was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner. The protesters accused the police of deliberately trying to protect those behind the girl's murder.

The protesters warned that they would intensify their agitation if the accused in the case were not arrested at the earliest.

Superintendent of Police K. T. Balakrishna said the death of Vinanti had taken place in a hospital in Goa and hospitals in that State refer cases to central forensic laboratory in Hyderabad. The laboratory in Hyderabad would get many cases every day and they were analysed on the basis of seniority, Mr. Balakrishna said.

He said the police had received one report and were awaiting two more. Since the report had technical terms, it had been sent to a professor of a medical college for interpretation, he said.

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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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‘Nothing for Karnataka’: DKS slams Union Budget, flags Bengaluru neglect

News Network

February 1,2026

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday criticised the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, claiming it offered no tangible benefit to the state.

Though he said he was yet to study the budget in detail, Shivakumar asserted that Karnataka had gained little from it. “There is no benefit for our state from the central budget. I was observing it. They have now named a programme after Mahatma Gandhi, after repealing the MGNREGA Act that was named after him,” he said.

Speaking to reporters here, the Deputy Chief Minister demanded the restoration of MGNREGA, and made it clear that the newly enacted rural employment scheme — VB-G RAM G — which proposes a 60:40 fund-sharing formula between the Centre and the states, would not be implemented in Karnataka.

“I don’t see any major share for our state in this budget,” he added.

Shivakumar, who also holds charge of Bengaluru development, said there were high expectations for the city from the Union Budget. “The Prime Minister calls Bengaluru a ‘global city’, but what has the Centre done for it?” he asked.

He also drew attention to the problems faced by sugar factories, particularly those in the cooperative sector, alleging a lack of timely decisions and support from the central government.

Noting that the Centre has the authority to fix the minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce, Shivakumar said the Union government must take concrete steps to protect farmers’ interests.

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