PFI announces campaign to ‘defend democracy’

[email protected] (CD Network)
October 4, 2015

Mangaluru, Oct 4: Popular Front of India will launch a national campaign to defend the democratic rights of people to eat what they like and speak what they like. The decision was taken in the joint meeting of Central Secretariat and the Zonal and State leaders of Popular Front of India at Bangaluru earlier this week.

pfi
The resolution passed by the National Leadership Meet opined that policies and actions of Narendra Modi government are proving that it is only protecting the interests of big corporates and RSS, and not the people of India. BJP’s tall promises such as Sab ka saath Sab ka Vikas, return of black money within hundred days, corruption free governance etc. have been proved to be just that, empty promises.

The government’s withdrawal from service sectors like education and public health in favour of big business houses are going to seriously affect the common people. Narendra Modi’s much publicised world tours with the slogan “Make in India” have not brought any economic gain for the nation. Sooner or later people of India have to pay a high price for the crony capitalist policies of the NDA regime.

The meeting also found highly disturbing the increasing role of Sangh Parivar in running the government. There is strong evidence that even cabinet ministers and high level bureaucrats queue up to meet the higher ups in RSS. It is involved in creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation among the Dalits, backward castes and secular circles.

The meeting has expressed deep concern over the rise of attacks, both verbal and physical, against minorities ever since new government came to power. The innocent Muslims are paying the price for the extreme communal hatred inflamed by campaigns against the imaginary increase of Muslim population.

Latest incidents show that communal fascist elements are emboldened to carry extreme brutalities hitherto unheard of and impose their will upon helpless Muslims as seen in attempts to prevent Qurbani during Eid and the brutal killing of an innocent old man close to the national capital allegedly for eating beef.

People who are vocal in their opposition to Hindutva politics are being exterminated systematically. The killing of the free thinker M M Kalburgi in Karnataka is only the latest in the series of permanently silencing critics.

The meeting has observed that the recent agitation by forwards castes such as Patels in Gujarat for reservation is a clear ploy to undermine the very system reservation meant for the empowerment of backward classes. The leader of the agitation has admitted that he draws inspiration from extreme rightist leaders. The cat is out of the bag with RSS supremo Mohan Bhagawat calling for a review of the system of reservation itself.

The meeting urged central and state governments to take a principled stand in the matter of reservation which has proved to be an effective means for achieving justice and equality among the depressed classes.

Popular Front has appealed the secular democratic forces and patriotic citizens at large to join hand to defend democracy by standing up for people’s right to freedom of food and freedom of thought. As a step towards this goal, Popular Front will undertake a campaign across the country under the caption Right to Eat; Right to Speak from 9 to 18 October. The National Leadership Meet appealed support from all sections of society for making the campaign successful.

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News Network
December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A 34-year-old fruit and vegetable trader in Mangaluru has reportedly lost ₹33.1 lakh after falling victim to an online investment scam run through a fake mobile app.

Police said the scam began in September, when the victim received a link on Facebook. Clicking it connected him to a WhatsApp number, where an unidentified person introduced a high-return investment scheme and instructed him to download an app.

To build trust, the fraudster asked him to invest ₹30,000 on September 24. The trader soon received ₹34,000 as “profit,” convincing him the scheme was genuine. Over the next two months, he transferred money in multiple instalments via Google Pay and IMPS to different scanner codes and bank accounts shared by the scammers. Between September 24 and December 3, he ended up sending a total of ₹33.1 lakh.

When he later requested a refund of his investment and promised returns, the scammers demanded additional payments, claiming he needed to pay a “service tax” first. Even after he paid a small amount, no money was returned, and the scammers continued pressuring him for more.

A case has been registered at the CEN Crime Police Station.

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News Network
December 7,2025

SHRIMP.jpg

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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