Sarika death: Black magic lifts its head again?

[email protected] (CD Network)
November 22, 2013
sarika
Mangalore, Nov 22: Sarika, an one year 11 month old toddler who went missing from her residence was subsequently found dead, leaving behind several questions unanswered. However, at present, the suspicion is that the child had become victim to superstition and black magic, ugly episodes of which had unfurled even before in the district.

Sarika, daughter of Mohandas and Bhavani couple went missing from Charmatha at Nalkur village Sullia taluk in August, when Bhavani left the child at home with her mother-in-law and went to take part in a SHG meeting. While all efforts to find the child went in vain, she was found dead about two weeks of going missing.

Initially, it was suspected that the child must have drowned in a lake, which is located just 100 mts away from the house. Several said that there were possibilities of the child being kidnapped or being eaten by wild animals. However, the episode that came to light after two weeks was shocking.

The dead body of the child was by a fisherman at Jenukodi, about 2 kms from Charmatha in a petrifying state.

The body placed on a dry areca leaf (Paale) had not head and hands.

With no traces of decay, the body suggested that the killing happened recently. The suspicion of the locals that the baby was slaughtered as a part of black magic practice became stronger.

In the meantime, an elderly woman was killed at Balugodu area. While the police were lagging behind in investigating the matter, the local residents took to street demanding action.

Finally some persons were arrested in connection to Balugodu murder case. During the interrogation it was clear that the Balugodu incident had connection to the Rathnapuri treasure hunt case, which almost coincided with Sarika case.

Meanwhile, there were rumours that the accused had practiced black magic in the Rathnapuri case and when the police visited the spot, it was confirmed that certain rituals were performed by the accused.

While the police are still looking for evidences to confirm that Sarika had become victim to black magic, a youth from Charmatha went missing and there is no clue of his whereabouts.

State level

The matter has reached the state level and the Home minister had asked for a report on the same from the Superintendent of Police.

World of crime

Nalkur, Balugodu, Hariharapallathadka, Kollamogri, Inekidu, Kalmakaru villages have been in news for wrong reasons.

Due to the rare natural resources available in Koojimale and Suttathmale, which is close to this region, the lives of the people here have suddenly changed.

The region has rich source of'Haralukallu', due to which a kind of mafia has developed in the region. Several people have lost their lives due to the greed of the mafia, it is said.

Close to this region is Rathnapuri, which is believed to be a house for immense treasure. While some mafia are on the quest of claiming this treasure, it is aid that Parameshwar Gowda was killed in the course of an attempt to claim the treasure. Now, suspicions are rife that Sarika too was made to death for the same purpose.

With proposed Elephant Corridor on one side and the naxalite movement on the other, the people here are continuously living under shadows of fear.

Priyanka remembered

It may be recalled here that a 3-year-old child was made to death at Yeyyadi supposedly to pacify the deities.

Daughter of Kiran Kumar Jha, who was working in a private firm, Priyanka was living with her parents in a rented house near Yeyyadi.

Kamalaksha Purusa was living near Jha's family and Priyanka used to go to Kamalaksha's house to play every day.

On December 16, 2010 too Priyanka had been to Kamalaksha's house, but on December 17 little Priyanka was found dead in the plantation nearby.

Soon, the cops arrested Kamalaksha and Chandrakala and confirmed that Priyanka was killed by the duo who was practicing black magic.

Generally it is said that in case a human slaughter is performed as a part of black magic, the head and hands are slaughtered. But, Priyanka, according to doctors was killed by pouring boiling hot water. Though the accused are in the jail, the reason for the killing has not been clear yet.

However, it is to be noted here that vulnerable people, especially the elderly and the children are being targeted by the ugly tentacles of a belief system which does not believe in humanity.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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News Network
December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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