‘Maya Gang’ used a minor to assault head constable to retaliate Mangaluru police firing: Top cop

coastaldigest.com news network

January 19, 2021

Mangaluru, Jan 19: Six youths have been arrested by the police in connection with the case of assault on a head constable reported more than a month ago in the coastal city.

The attack which took place on December 16, 2020 in Mangaluru was in retaliation to the police firing that had claimed two lives during anti-CAA protest in Mangaluru on December 19, 2019.

According to police a gang had used a minor to assault police head constable Ganesh Kamath in broad daylight near New Chitra Junction.

After the attack, the police had arrested two persons, including the minor. Now, six more persons have been arrested in connection with the incident, said City Police Commissioner N Shashi Kumar. In total, eight people have been nabbed till date.

The six arrested are Anish Ashraf (22) from Kudroli, Abdul Khader Fahad (23) from Kudroli, Sheik Mohammed Harris alias Jigri (31) from Bajpe, Mohammed Kayis alias Kayis (24) from Tannirbavi, Rahil alias Chotu Rahil (18) from Kudroli and Mohammed Nawaz (30) from B C Road.

"The accused, who belong to ‘Maya Gang’ or ‘Maya team’, used a minor to commit the offence, thinking that would keep them out of the police nets. Among the arrested, Nawaz and Kayis had coordinated with other gang members to execute the attack. It was a conspiracy against the police for the firing that had claimed two persons in Mangaluru during the protest. Among the arrested, there were a few who were distant relatives and close friends of those who were killed in police firing," said the Commissioner.

“Initially, the gang wanted to commit the crime on December 19. However, they changed their minds having realised the increase in security in the city, and committed the crime three days ahead of the date. Both the teams had met thrice in November and December, to systematically plan their act.

Though Anish had volunteered to commit the crime, later, they decided to use a minor. Soon after the incident, Nawaz, one of the arrested, had tried to mislead the police during the course of investigation," said the police commissioner.

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Campus politics: DKS pushes to restore student elections in Karnataka banned since 1989

News Network

November 26,2025

Bengaluru, Nov 26: Karnataka is taking its first concrete steps towards lifting a three-decade-old ban on student elections in colleges and universities. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced Wednesday that the state government will form a small committee to study the reintroduction of campus polls, a practice halted in 1989 following incidents of violence.

Speaking at a 'Constitution Day' event organised by the Karnataka Congress, Mr. Shivakumar underscored the move's aim: nurturing new political leadership from the grassroots.

"Recently, (Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to me and Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) asking us to think about restarting student elections," Shivakumar stated. "I'm announcing today that we'll form a small committee and seek a report on this."

Student elections were banned in Karnataka in 1989, largely due to concerns over violence and the infiltration of political party affiliates into campus life. The ban effectively extinguished vibrant student bodies and the pipeline of young leaders they often produced.

Mr. Shivakumar, who also serves as the Karnataka Congress president, said that former student leaders will be consulted to "study the pros and cons" of the re-introduction.

Acknowledging the history of the ban, he added, "There were many criminal activities taking place back then. We’ll see how we can conduct (student) elections by regulating such criminal activities."

The Deputy CM reminisced about his own journey, which began on campus. He recalled his political activism at Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya College leading to his first Assembly ticket in 1985 at the age of 23. "That's how student leadership was at the time. Such leadership has gone today. College elections have stopped," he lamented, adding that for many, college elections were "like a big movement" where leaders were forged.

The move, driven by the Congress high command's push to cultivate young talent, will face scrutiny from academics and university authorities who have, in the past, expressed concern that the return of polls could disrupt the peaceful academic environment and turn campuses into political battlegrounds.

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