Will remove red beacon only if CM asks me to do so: U T Khader

Mangaluru, May 2: U T Khader, Karnataka’s minister for Food and Civil Supplies, has refused to fall in line with the central government's ban on red beacons in VIP vehicles, saying he would remove it if Chief Minister Siddaramaiah instructs him to do so.

"If the Chief Minister asks me to remove the red beacon light, I will obey his instruction and remove it," Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader said.

Khader said it was the state government that had given him the car with a red beacon light, not central government, and he had no right to alter it.

"I do not have power to alter my car. It is left to the cabinet to decide," he told reporters here yesterday.

Khader also said he would not object to the ban on red beacon light on VIP vehicles but most importantly, the government should bring in schemes which will fill stomachs of people and provide education.

"Let the central government bring into force such a notification, I am not saying no, but most importantly it should introduce schemes wherein it is possible to fill the stomachs of people and provide education," the Congress minister said.

The aim of the government should bring people to the level of VIP, he added.

He also said, "I am not moving around with the red beacon light placed on my head. It is installed on my car."

The Union Cabinet had last month decided to end the flashing of red beacons with effect from yesterday to end the VIP culture.

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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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