Siddharth Varadarajan held hostage by ABVP in Allahabad at VC's office

January 21, 2016

Allahabad, Jan 21: Senior journalist Siddharth Varadarajan along with Allahabad University student union president Richa Singh was held hostage for around half an hour inside the office of AU VC, RL Hangloo when the senior journalist went to meet the VC at his office on Wednesday. This was after ABVP members and office bearers of AU student union started protesting against his entering the varsity campus and forced him to stay inside only to allow his access to leave the campus after intervention of police.

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Earlier, Varadarajan was not allowed to address the symposium at Senate hall of the Arts campus as the AU authorities had withdrawn the permission for holding the symposium at the said venue. The permission was withdrawn following the protest by the four office bearers of AU student union who were of the opinion that Varadarajan is pro-naxal and his ideas are anti-nationalist.

Following the denial for the event, Varadarajan spoke Swaraj Bhawan, a venue outside the varsity campus.

However, after addressing around 100 students at the venue, he along with the union president arrived at the VC office to meet him. But, by the time he was meeting Prof Hangloo, large number of ABVP members along with the four office bearers of the student union, arrived at the portico of the VC's office and started shouting against the senior journalist and the varsity administration.

Because of the unrest and chaos outside the VC's office, Varadarajan was unable to leave the office of the VC for around half an hour.

Soon police was called in and the varsity proctor too spoke to the agitating members who allowed Varadarajan exit from the campus terming that he should not be given so much of importance. Under security cover by the police, the journalist managed to leave the campus and headed for his meeting with the officials of IIIT-A.

Varadarajan termed the incident as very unfortunate. Member of ABVP, Yashwant Singh Rana said, "this journalist is pro-naxal and speaks language of anti-nationals so he should not be allowed to speak or enter AU campus. If Yogi Adityanath was not allowed to enter or speak inside the varsity campus, why is this journalist allowed to enter the campus".

Comments

shabeeruddin
 - 
Thursday, 21 Jan 2016

wow .........those who speaks against BJP is anti national is this our same nation were we adopted freedom of speech in our constitution likely to change to modi speech constitution were only modi bajan will be sung everywhere hehehehehehehhe..................

Kushwant Bhat
 - 
Thursday, 21 Jan 2016

Is it in Hindustan or some were else??? like some King ruling country ok Happens but In Hindustan ashamed to our Government and our democracy, one thing did not Understand, we all knows in Hindustan there are Army, Navy, Air force, I do not know ABVP is the forth one!!!! Good luck, go ahead with your operation till end.

Jai Hind

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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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News Network
December 20,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 20: The Mangaluru City Police have issued a detailed traffic advisory ahead of the inaugural ceremony of Karavali Utsava, which will be held at the Karavali Utsava Ground on Saturday.

The festival will be inaugurated at 6:00 pm by Dakshina Kannada District Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. Cultural and public programmes will be held at the venue every evening and will continue until January 2.

According to City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy, parking of vehicles is strictly prohibited on both sides of the road from Lalbagh to Karavali Utsava Ground. Visitors are requested to park their vehicles only at designated parking areas.

To help the public, traffic signboards and parking guidance flex boards have been installed along the routes leading to the venue. The police have urged commuters and visitors to follow these instructions to ensure smooth traffic movement.

Designated Parking Locations

•    Urwa Market Ground – Cars
•    Gandhinagar Government School (near Press Club) – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Ladyhill Church parking area – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Canara School Ground, Mannagudda – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Thimmappa Hotel premises – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Scout and Guide Bhavana premises (behind Karavali Utsava Grounds) – Two-wheelers
•    Urwa Market Road – Two-wheelers
•    Hat Hill Road – Two-wheelers

The police have appealed to the public to cooperate by following traffic rules and parking guidelines to avoid inconvenience during the festival.

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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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