Shiroor seer died of liver cirrhosis, not poisoning, claims FSL report

News Network
August 23, 2018

Udupi, Aug 23: The opponents of Late Lakshmivara Thirtha, the departed chief pontiff of Shiroor Mutt have breathed a sigh of relief as the forensic experts in Karnataka have reportedly ruled out conspiracy theories.

The seer, who had warned to expose the alleged corruption and anti-social activities in the Ashta Mutt, died in a hospital on July 19 at the age of 55 after he was admitted there in a critical condition.  The press statement issued by the hospital on the day of his death said there was “suspicion of poisoning” and the toxicological samples had been sent for testing.

However, sources at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) are now saying that the seer did not die of food poisoning but because of liver cirrhosis.

“Findings of the postmortem has proved that Lakshmivara Thirtha was not poisoned. We have not found any traces of poison in his stomach. As per the tests, we learned that he died due to liver cirrhosis and an acute rupture in the liver,” an officer of FSL said.

Disciples of Lakshmivara Thirtha suspected that one of the heads of the Ashta Mutt poisoned the seer, thereby killing him. Not just the disciples, even a doctor who treated Lakshmivara Thirtha before his death asserted the evidence of a poisonous substance in the blood sample.

Dr Avinash, Medical Superintendent of Kasturba Medical College and Hospital stated, “Once Shiroor Lakshmivara Thirtha was admitted, a team of experts started treating him. Later, the blood tests showed traces of the poisonous substance. We were awaiting the complete blood report when he died of multiple organ failure.”

Lakshmivara Thirtha had earlier asked for protection from gunmen after he allegedly found out conspiracy theories to kill him. The allegations were made by the seer a few weeks before his death. Lakshmivara Thirtha also faced opposition from the seers of the Ashta Mutt for showing interest in politics.

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News Network
December 5,2025

Mangaluru: In a significant step to curb online hate and intimidation, Mangaluru City Police have registered a suo motu case against multiple Instagram accounts accused of circulating alleged provocative and threatening content.

While monitoring social media activity on Tuesday, Kankanady Town PSI Anitha Nikkam identified the Instagram handle ‘team_targetttt_900’ for posting a hate message alongside images of lethal weapons. Another account, ‘team_nagara_900’, allegedly shared a threatening post targeting activist Bharath Kumdelu, tagging additional pages such as KARAVALI-OFFICIAL.

Several other accounts — including ‘immu_bhai.fan’, ‘target_boy_900’, ‘kings_of_manglore’, ‘team_target_boys.900’, ‘arshad_mangalore’, ‘target_ka19_ullal’, ‘team_target__’, ‘troll_tigersz_900’, ‘tr_group_900’, and ‘team_target_900’ — are also under scrutiny for spreading similar inflammatory material, police said.

Authorities have urged citizens, especially young social media users, to report suspicious pages and avoid engaging with groups that glorify violence or threaten individuals. Online hate can quickly escalate into real-world harm, and police stress that sharing or promoting such content can attract legal consequences.

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News Network
December 1,2025

hindutvaboy.jpg

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 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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