Rivalry within Congress led to attack on MLA’s house during Facebook post violence: Police

News Network

October 14, 2020

Bengaluru, Oct 14: The Central Crime Branch of police probing the attack on the house of MLA R Akhanda Srinivas Murthy during the violence that rocked Bengaluru in August following his kin’s provocative Facebook post has come to a conclusion that rivalry within Congress party had resulted in brazen attack.

The CCB police on Tuesday filed an interim chargesheet naming 60 accused, including ex-mayor Sampath Raj, his assistant Arun, car driver Santosh, and former Pulakeshinagar ward corporator Abdul Rakeeb Zakir.

Attributing the attack to internal party rivalry, police said Sampath Raj and Zakir, who had issues with Murthy, took advantage of the situation on the night of August 11, when KG Halli and DJ Halli areas erupted in violence.

The 400-page charge sheet said the violence started after the MLA’s nephew Naveen posted derogatory statements against the Muslim community. A couple of youths gathered in front of Naveen’s house in Kavalbyrasandra and shouted slogans.

Sampath Raj and Zakir hatched a plan to provoke the crowd to go to the MLA’s house. The crowd later set fire to the house. “On the instruction of Sampath Raj, his personnel assistant, car driver and Zakir’s associate Majnu conspired and provoked the mob,” police said.

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Mangaluru Tees Off Big: Golf Excellence Academy to Open at Pilikula

News Network

February 1,2026

The coastal city of Mangaluru is gearing up for a major sporting milestone with the launch of a Golf Excellence Academy at the Pilikula Golf Club (PGC), scheduled to open on May 31. The initiative aims to position Mangaluru firmly on India’s national golfing map.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday during PGC’s first-ever floodlit Pro-Am tournament, club captain Manoj Kumar Shetty said the project is being funded by UAE-based philanthropist Michael D’Souza and is currently in the design phase. Experts from leading golf academies across the country are expected to visit Mangaluru to help shape the training programme and infrastructure.

The academy will train 20 young golfers at a time, with a long-term vision of producing national-level players from the region. Until now, PGC relied on an in-house coach, but the recent renovation of the course and the introduction of floodlights have opened new possibilities for expanding the sport.

Shetty said discussions are underway with two reputed coaching academies, whose heads are expected to visit PGC shortly. “A dormitory for trainers is already under construction. We are inviting academies to assess the facilities and suggest changes so we can build a truly world-class Golf Excellence Academy,” he said.

Professional golfer Aryan Roopa Anand noted that the floodlit course would be a game-changer for young players. “Students can now practise after school hours, even up to 8 or 9 pm, without compromising on academics,” he said.

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