VHP, Bajrang Dal activists go into hiding as DySP suicide case probe progresses

July 22, 2016

Chikkamagaluru, Jul 22: The investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into the case of a businessman's kidnap and subsequent suicide of DySP Kallappa Handibag, has prompted many activists of the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad go into hiding to avoid police action.

Praveen Khandya and Naveen Shetty

The police, in their efforts to arrest Praveen Khandya, VHP leader and one of the accused in the kidnap case, are looking for his associates to trace him. Khandya has been absconding since July 4, the day Basavanahalli police in Chikkamagaluru registered an FIR, following a complaint by Tejas Gowda, a local financier.

During their investigation, the CID police took Pradeep K., a close associate of Khandya and a member of the Bajrang Dal's State committee, into custody. Another accused Abhiram, said to be an ABVP activist, has been arrested by the CID in Bengaluru.

The police are on the lookout for Khandya and Naveen Shetty.

CID Superintendent of Police D.C. Rajappa and Deputy Superintendent of Police Dharanesh have questioned nearly 10 associates of Khandya so far. However, the police have failed to trace the accused.

Khandya has nearly 25 cases pending against him. In Balehonnur police station alone, he has 16 cases. All are related to assault, unlawful assembly, rioting and similar charges.

According to sources, the police are checking Khandya's social media accounts to look for his friends and associates. His Facebook timeline is filled with posts opposing cow slaughter.

Shetty had been living in Sakleshpur for a couple of years.

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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

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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