We did not kill Gauri Lankesh; ready to cooperate in probe: Sanatan Sanstha

coastaldigest.com news network

September 21, 2017

Bengaluru, Sept 21: Denying its involvement in the coldblooded murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, Goa-based hardline Hindutva outfit Sanatan Sanstha, demanded an “unbiased probe” into the case and said their volunteers (sadhaks) would “co-operate with any probe as required by law.

“Don’t suspect us. No one from Sanatan Sanstha involved in this murder,” said the organization’s national spokesperson Chetan Rajhans in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Asked if the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had, till date, questioned any volunteer in connection with the murder, he said: “Local police in Goa and Maharashtra are inquiring about the murder with our volunteers; but not the SIT.”

The Sanstha had published only one article on her in Sanatan Prabhat, its mouthpiece, when she accused the organisation of involvement in Madgoan blast in Goa, he said.

Mr. Rajhans, while acknowledging Dr. Veerendra Tawde and Sameer Gaekwad chargesheeted in the murders of the two rationalists Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare as “sadhaks” of the Sanstha, claimed the two were “framed.”

“We are not part of BJP. Whoever, is in power what we need is a fair probe. The way the state government in Maharashtra is behaving is also not very different from other governments,” Mr. Rajhans said.

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

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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