A week after holy cow debate, miscreant smears cow-dung on Pattabhi's face

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Ahmed Anwar)
April 21, 2012

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Mangalore, April 21: English teacher and thinker Pattabhirama Somayaji was in for a rude shock when an unidentified miscreant smeared cow-dung on his face in the city on Saturday afternoon.

The incident occurred, around 2:00 pm, when the lecturer of University College was standing outside Dhanyashree Hotel at Pumpwell, after having lunch along with the other lecturers.

It is learnt that the miscreant, who came on a motorbike advanced towards Mr Somayaji and smeared cow dung on his face. He had brought the cow dung in a plastic cover.

Mr Somayaji, later speaking to media persons, held 'Sangh Parivar' responsible for the act. “This might be the act of Sangh Parivar miscreants”, he said. A case has been registered at Kankanadi Police Station.

The Debate

The attack comes a week after Mr Somayaji was engaged in a heated debate over the issue of cow slaughter with Sri Rajashekarananda Swami of Vajradehi mutt Swami on a live TV channel.

Swamiji had taken serious objection to Mr Somayaji using the word 'goondagiri' for those who chase the cattle-laden truck and take law into their hands.

The Vajradehi seer was repeatedly asking the lecturer to take back the word 'goondagiri', but the lecturer was adamant that he cannot find any better word for those people who take law into their hands.

Mr Somayaji had also mentioned that during such acts of moral policing the activists of the Hindutva organisations rob mobile phones and money from the drivers and the cattle traders.

In the debate he had clarified: “I don't eat beef or any other meat. But there are croers of people for whom it is a cheap and nutritional food. So nobody has the right to curb the right to food of the people”. It is also a source of nutrition for the people in the Indian military, he added.

'Hindu blood boils'

In reply Swamiji said: “Cow is sacred to crores of Hindus who worship it. The animal has multiple uses for human beings. Its panchagavya is sacred. It is but natural that Hindus get agitated when they see cow slaughtering going on before their own eyes”.

The seer went on to claim that the blood of the Hindus boils when they see their sacred animals being hoarded into the truck and driven to slaughterhouses. “The slaughtering of the animal is a punishable offence under the law. Unfortunately, there is lacuna in the law which allows people to take advantage. Since the law has failed to protect the cows, Hindu organisations have taken it upon themselves to stop violation of law. There is nothing wrong in what these Hindu groups are doing. Since police are not able to take action, we have to intervene and help in implementation of the law”, he said.

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News Network
November 30,2025

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Mangaluru, Nov 30: A 22-year-old college student succumbed to her injuries at a private hospital in Mangaluru today, days after she was hit by a goods tempo while crossing a road in Padubidri.

The deceased has been identified as Preksha, a resident of Nadsalu Billitota in Padubidri. The fatal incident occurred as Preksha, who was returning home after completing her examination, attempted to cross the service road towards Mangaluru. She was struck by a goods tempo approaching from the Udupi side, causing her to fall and sustain a severe head injury.

Prompt action from local residents ensured she received immediate first aid before being rushed to a hospital in Mangaluru for specialised treatment. Despite medical efforts, she passed away while undergoing care.

Preksha was a student at Karavali College, Vamanjoor on the outskirts of Mangaluru city. The tragedy is compounded by the fact that she belonged to a financially vulnerable family, having previously lost her father. She is survived by her mother and brother.

A case related to the accident has been registered at the Padubidri police station, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances that led to the collision. The incident highlights the growing concerns over road safety, particularly on busy service roads, and serves as a tragic reminder of the human cost of traffic accidents.

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News Network
December 1,2025

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Udupi, Dec 1: A horrific case of alleged rape has unfolded in Udupi, where a worker from a Hindutva organisation, previously arrested and released on bail for harassing a young woman, is now accused of waylaying and sexually assaulting her.

The arrested individual has been identified as Pradeep Poojary (26), a member of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike's Nairkode unit in Perdur.

Poojary had allegedly been relentlessly harassing the young woman, pressuring her to marry him. When she bravely stood up to him and refused his demands, she filed a formal complaint at the Hiriyadka police station. He was subsequently arrested in that initial harassment case but was later granted bail.

According to police reports, driven by the same malicious grudge, Poojary allegedly intercepted the woman again on November 29. While she was walking through a deserted area, the accused is claimed to have threatened her by grabbing her neck. When she again refused to marry him, he allegedly proceeded to rape her.

The survivor immediately informed her family about the traumatic assault. Following this, her parents lodged a complaint at the Udupi women’s police station.

Police arrested Poojary again and produced him before the court. He has since been remanded to judicial custody.

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News Network
December 7,2025

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Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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