Latest news with #K.Arun
The Hindu
27-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Over 200 tribal families in KNP limits lack basic amenities: Adivasi Hakkagula Samanvaya Samithi
Adivasi Hakkugala Samanvaya Samiti on Sunday lamented that tribal families residing within the Kudremukh National Park in Belthangady taluk lack basic amenities, including road connectivity and power supply. Shekhar Laila, convener of the samithi's Belthangady taluk unit, raised the issue at the SC/ST grievances redressal meeting convened by the Mangaluru City Police Commissionerate and Dakshina Kannada District Police here. He said more than 210 tribal Malekudiya families residing in nine villages were deprived of basic amenities in the taluk. Superintendent of Police K. Arun said that he would write to authorities concerned regarding the urgent need for road connectivity and footbridges for the residents. Mr. Laila also raised the issue of 18 Group 'D' staff working on contract basis at the Belthangady taluk hospital receiving salary once in three or four months and not getting even a single day leave in a month. The Superintendent of Police said that he would take up the issue with the District Health Officer. In another instance, seven Koraga families of Atrinje at Sulkeri in Belthangady taluk were deprived of an all-weather connectivity infrastructure, as a bridge was built 21 km away from their habitat. Another participant highlighted the plight of 13 Dalit families residing in Nirde and Ajakala of Balnadu village, Puttur taluk, who continue to lack proper road access to their houses. He said pregnant women, patients, and other residents face immense difficulty. Though the issue was brought to the Deputy Commissioner's notice, no action was taken. Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy clarified that any issue concerning SC/ST communities, including harassment or atrocities, may be reported to the nearest police station, which will conduct a preliminary inquiry before transferring the case to the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE). Those who are in distress can directly approach the DCRE, he added.
The Hindu
27-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
No sand shortage in DK dist., it is created by sand mafia: SP
Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police K. Arun on Sunday said the so called 'sand shortage' was created by sand mafia, and asserted there was no sand shortage in the district. He was responding to a participant who raised the issue of shortage of sand and laterite stone for the construction industry during the SC/ST grievances redressal meeting convened by the Mangaluru City and Dakshina Kannada District Police. He said the sand mafia wants sand from rivers and the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) that was cheaper, since sand extraction from rivers in CRZ was not being allowed at present. Dr. Arun said, 'There is no shortage of sand in the district. Sand blocks have already been identified, and people can book sand through the Sand Bazaar App. It's the mafia that is halting construction activities, not the police.' He said the police have not taken any action against lawful transportation of sand and laterite stone. However, it would not allow illegal excavation and transportation, he clarified. Enough sand available The Mines and Geology Department on Friday said that 15,424 tonnes of sand of non-CRZ areas is available for purchase at yards for the residents of Dakshina Kannada district through website or DK Sand Bazaar App. Sand extraction from 15 identified sand blocks in non-CRZ area would commence from October 16, even as 3.3 lakh tonnes sand was available for excavation from these blocks, the department noted.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- The Hindu
Dharmasthala burials case: Police flag issues in providing protection for complainant
In the absence of clear information about the complainant's location in the Dharmasthala burial case, the Dakshina Kannada police have informed the competent authority that it will be difficult to provide him with protection. The Deputy Superintendent of Police submitted a report in this regard to the Dakshina Kannada Principal District and Sessions Judge, who heads the three-member district committee on witness protection. In a statement, Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police K. Arun said that, at the complainant's request, the District and Sessions Judge-headed committee had recently granted him witness protection. Rule 7 of the Witness Protection Rules states that actions for protection will be taken with the consent and cooperation of the witness. This was conveyed to the advocates representing the complainant by the DySP via email on July 10. All communication regarding the case was being made to the advocates through email. There was no information available about the complainant's location. In such a scenario, DySP has expressed in his report about the difficulty in providing protection. The report also mentioned that in the event of a complainant's absence during the later stages of the investigation, the police lack information to physically locate the complainant, the SP stated. Reacting to the statement, advocates S.J. Dheeraj and Ananya Gowda, who claim to represent the complainant, said the complainant has not sought anonymity to escape scrutiny. On the contrary, his decision to come forward and instruct his lawyers to release a redacted complaint and FIR was a conscious act, taken in the interest of his safety. It was wrong for the police to now suggest that, merely because some information of the complainant was available through their (advocates) press releases and other media, they (police) were relieved of their duty to protect the complainant. The actions of the police go contrary to the letter and spirit of the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018, the two advocates stated.
