Latest news with #MuneerKatipalla
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Allocate more funds for education of children from Koraga community, says activist
Mangaluru: Social activist and CPM district secretary Muneer Katipalla urged both central and state govts to invest substantially in the education of children from the Koraga community. He spoke at the inauguration of a personality development and scholarship distribution programme for Koraga community students, organised by the Shri Koragajja Seva Trust in Vamanjoor. "The indigenous Koraga community, inheritors of all modern knowledge traditions, is a tribal community on the brink of extinction due to exploitation from the hierarchical caste system. In the current era of globalisation, liberalisation, and privatisation, formal education is essential to secure even minimal opportunities," said Muneer. Further, he emphasised the need to allocate at least 10% of the annual income from the numerous Koragajja shrines in both districts to the education of Koraga community children. Krishnappa Konchadi, the state co-director of the Karnataka Adivasi Rights Coordination Committee, said that education is the first step towards the liberation of the indigenous Koraga community of coastal Karnataka, who were victims of centuries of injustice, exploitation, oppression, and caste untouchability. He stressed that both the govt and society must work with a spirit of dedication towards this cause. Shri Koragajja Seva Trust distributed student scholarship funds to 100 students pursuing education in extreme poverty.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Civil Rights Groups Condemn Religious Bias by Puttur IMA, Call for Action to Safeguard Communal Harmony in Coastal Karnataka
Mangaluru: In a strongly worded condemnation, civil society organisations and secular groups from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts have criticised the Puttur unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) for what they described as "religiously biased and politically motivated" actions, allegedly influenced by right-wing groups. The criticism was voiced during a joint meeting held at a private hotel in Mulki on Thursday, where participants resolved to initiate legal and public mobilisation efforts to counter growing communal polarisation in coastal Karnataka. The meeting was convened in the backdrop of a recent controversy involving a government doctor from Puttur, who reportedly engaged in a verbal dispute with a Muslim family. The IMA Puttur unit allegedly supported the doctor and joined a protest alongside members of right-wing organisations. Speakers at the meeting expressed concern that the IMA's involvement in such protests, including alleged hate speech targeting the Muslim community, reveals a disturbing communal orientation within a professional body expected to uphold neutrality. Participants also criticised the defamation case filed against journalist AbduSalaam Putthige and activist Muneer Katipalla for raising concerns over the incident. 'This amounts to an attempt to suppress democratic voices and is a blemish on the medical profession itself,' the groups stated in a joint resolution. A protest meeting is now planned for the second week of June in Mangaluru, where a formal demand will be submitted to the government seeking an impartial probe into the conduct of the IMA Puttur unit and those involved. The meeting further addressed the broader rise in communal tensions in the region, pointing to a series of recent hate speeches and politically motivated murders allegedly linked to Hindutva groups and supported by some BJP legislators. Speakers argued that the state government's 'soft approach' towards communal violence has deepened mistrust between communities, undermined law and order, and harmed Karnataka's tradition of religious coexistence. In response, the gathering called for unity among progressive, secular, and people-centric organisations, regardless of ideological differences. A series of mass awareness campaigns and outreach programmes will be launched in the coming months, once the situation stabilises, to rebuild trust and promote harmony. The meeting was chaired by Amrith Shenoy, coordinator of Sahabalve Udupi. Among the key participants were CPI(M) state secretariat member K. Yadava Shetty, CPI district secretary B. Shekhar, Congress spokesperson M.G. Hegde, senior advocate Dinesh Hegde Ulepady, Dalit and tribal rights leaders M. Devadas and Dr. Krishnappa Konchady, DYFI representatives, former Mangaluru Mayor K. Ashraf, and various office bearers from the Muslim Federation of Udupi and Mangaluru. Activist Manjula Nayak of Samarasya Mangaluru and several leaders from labour and student movements also attended. The meeting concluded with a renewed pledge to protect the coastal region's pluralistic ethos and confront communal politics through lawful and democratic means.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
CPM presents 28 key demands for devpt of Ullal
Mangaluru: A massive protest was organised at Deralakatte grounds on Tuesday, under the joint leadership of the CPM Ullal and Mudipu area committees. The protest advocated for the comprehensive development of Ullal taluk, and presented 28 key demands of the local populace. CPM district secretary Muneer Katipalla said that a lobby of real estate, education, and health sectors is operating in Ullal taluk. He mentioned that people's representatives discuss development with owners of medical colleges, educational institutions, and various enterprises, which leads to policies that protect their interests. Local fishermen, Dalits, tribals, labourers, transport workers, and local workers in various institutions are being ignored, he said. The red soil mafia is engaged in illegal mining in rural areas, while the sand mafia is exploiting Nethravati River and islands. The opposition BJP only takes to the streets on communal issues, engaging in divisive politics, which has left the common people of the constituency helpless. He suggested Mangaluru MLA and assembly speaker UT Khader focus on demands related to housing, public health, education, and employment creation, and curb the mafias. "If comprehensive development involving the common people is not pursued, the CPM will take the struggle to the villages," he warned. In his introductory speech, CPM Ullal area secretary Sunil Kumar Bajal said that each of the 28 demands of the local populace was studied before being presented. The demands presented at the protest gathering will transform into broader struggles, he added. CPM state secretariat member K Yadav Shetty and senior communist leader Krishnappa Salian addressed the gathering.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Man dies under mysterious circumstances in Mangaluru
Mangaluru : A man aged around 35-40 years died under mysterious circumstances in Kudupu on Sunday. City police commissioner, Anupam Agrawal, the identity of the deceased is yet to be established, and the primary examination, doesn't reveal the cause of death either. CPI(M) Dakshina Kannada district secretary Muneer Katipalla said that there are reports emerging that a group of people who were playing cricket, assaulted and killed a migrant worker near Kudupu. "Special investigation team must probe the case. Public is concerned that attempts are being made by politicians and local representatives to protect those involved in the case and to weaken the investigation," he alleged. CPI(M) Dakshina Kannada, suspects a communal angel to the incident, and demands serious attention to this issue. Katipalla also urged the chief minister to take it up personally and appoint a competent team of officials to investigate the case. President of Dakshina Kannada district Congress minority wing, Shahul Hameed KK alleged that a Muslim migrant labourer was killed by a group for 'shouting anti-national slogans'. There are suspicions that local legislators and BJP leaders are attempting to cover up the case. He further alleged that the Mangaluru police's silence on the matter has also raised doubts, and demanded police to conduct a thorough impartial investigation.
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Labourer found dead under suspicious circumstances
While the Mangaluru police are yet to identify a labourer (aged about 40) who was found dead near Kudupu ground, on the outskirts of the city, on Sunday, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Congress alleged on Monday that a group of people killed the labourer for raising pro-Pakistan slogan. Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal said that the process of identification of the deceased is on. The cause of his death is yet to be established. The police have presently registered the case under suspicious death category. 'Other rumours (about the death) are not true,' he said. In a statement, CPI(M) Dakshina Kannada District Secretary Muneer Katipalla said rumours were being spread by perpetrators that the deceased, a migratory labourer, raised slogans in support of Pakistan. It was also being said that a group bludgeoned him to death after knowing his religion. This targeted killing by the group is being projected as act of patriotism. Husband of a former councillor has been accused of encouraging the group to murder the labourer. Mr. Katipalla said a special police team should investigate the case thoroughly to bring out real facts. In another statement, K.K. Shahul Hameed, president, Dakshina Kannada Minority Cell of the Congress said the city police should impartially investigate the case.
