After release, Jokatte activists pledge to continue agitation against MRPL

July 5, 2015

Mangaluru, Jul 5: Muneer Katipalla, the State president of Democratic Youth Federation of India and other activists of Jokatte Citizens Action Committee, who were who were arrested and released on Saturday, have pledged to continue protest against MRPL’s coke and sulphur recovery units.

Around 35 members of the committee including Mr Katipalla were on Saturday taken into custody by jurisdictional Surathkal Police on charge of obstructing the Mangalore Special Economic Zone authorities from carrying out work on a corridor road in Jokatte.

The Committee has not been allowing any work on the corridor road for the last several months as a mark of protest against the alleged air and water pollution from MRPL’s coke and sulphur recovery units. The Jokatte residents had been demanding closure of the two units.

On Saturday the Jokatte residents led by Committee members had stopped movement of heavy vehicles towards the MSEZ area and carried out demonstrations.

On Saturday, MSEZ personnel came with their material to the corridor road to start the work. They were accompanied by a large posse of policemen. The Committee members and residents blocked the way and refused to allow the resumption of work. MSEZ personnel said the work cannot be stopped as there were orders from the court against any obstruction.

The police arrested Mr. Katipalla and others and brought them to the police station. “Assistant Commissioner of Police Madan Gaonker told us to give an undertaking that we will not henceforth obstruct road work. None of us agreed,” said Mr. Katipalla. The police then registered a case against them.

Around 4 p.m., DYFI activists and residents of Jokatte carried out a demonstration at the Surthakal junction against the action of the police. It was around 5 p.m. Mr Katipalla and other activists were released.

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Mangaluru Airport turns political stage: Congress workers chant for DKS as Venugopal arrives

News Network

December 3,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 3: A group of Congress workers gathered at the Mangaluru International Airport on Wednesday to welcome AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, but the reception quickly turned into a display of support for Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

Venugopal arrived in the city to participate in the centenary commemoration of the historic dialogue between Mahatma Gandhi and Narayana Guru. The event, organised by the Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala, in association with the Mangalore University Sri Narayana Guru Study Chair, is being held on the university’s Konaje campus.

KPCC general secretary Mithun Rai and several party workers had assembled at the airport to receive Venugopal. However, the moment he stepped out, workers began raising slogans backing Shivakumar.

The university programme will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

This show of support comes just a day after Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar would lead the government “when the high command decides.” The chief minister made the comment after a breakfast meeting at Shivakumar’s residence—another public display of camaraderie between the two leaders amid ongoing attempts by the party high command to downplay their leadership rivalry.

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