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Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Unsolved crimes cast long shadow over pilgrimage centre
Mangaluru: Dharmasthala, a revered pilgrimage centre in Dakshina Kannada, is once again under scrutiny following renewed allegations of decades-long unsolved crimes, including rape, murder, and suspicious deaths. At a press conference, activist K. Dinesh Ganiga alleged that between 1970 and 2025, several high-profile cases in and around Dharmasthala remain unresolved. He cited the 1973 rape and murder of SDM College student Padmalatha, the 1986 petrol-burning murder of teacher Vedavalli, and the 2012 killings of elephant caretaker Narayana and his wife Yamuna. He also referred to the rape and murder of Soujanya in October 2012, a case that sparked statewide outrage. Ganiga further highlighted discrepancies between official police records and local panchayat reports, noting that from 2002 to 2012 alone, 452 unnatural deaths were recorded in Dharmasthala and Ujire. 'Despite the seriousness of these cases, no suspects have been convicted. The failure of the police has eroded public trust,' he accused political leaders of selectively raising the issue for religious or electoral gain while remaining silent during earlier society groups have now demanded that four key cases be handed over to a Special Investigation Team (SIT). To press for this, activists announced a statewide mobilisation under the banner 'Ujire Chalo' on August 24, calling for transparency, justice for victims, and accountability from the government.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Another complaint filed amid Dharmasthala probe
Bengaluru: Thirty-eight years after the death of a pre-university student in Dharmasthala, her sister has asked the special investigation team (SIT) to reopen the case and exhume the remains to aid a fresh investigation. Dakshina Kannada: Security personnel stand guard near the site of the alleged mass burial, at Dharmasthala, in Dakshina Kannada district. (PTI PHOTO) Indravati, a resident of Nelyadi, appeared before the SIT on Monday, claiming her sister was abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered. She said Padmalatha, daughter of the late Devananda, was a II PUC student at SDM College, Ujire, when she went missing on December 22, 1986. 'Thirty-eight years ago, my sister Padmalatha, who was studying in the second PUC at SDM College. She went to college on December 22, 1986 at Ujire, returned to Dharmasthala and went missing in the evening. Her decomposed body was found on the side of a stream on February 17, 1987,' her petition states. She recalled that her father, a CPI(M) leader, led several protests seeking justice, prompting the government to hand the matter to the Corps of Detectives (COD). The case was discussed in the legislative assembly, and then Home Minister Rachaiah visited their home, assuring action. The probe was later closed as 'undetected.' Calling it a likely case of organised crime, Indravati said the family chose burial over cremation to preserve the possibility of future forensic testing. She has now asked the SIT to exhume the remains and expressed readiness to testify if the case is reopened. Meanwhile, the SIT, currently investigating the Dharmasthala mass burial case, is also preparing to deploy Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) at site number 13, one of several locations marked by a complainant. Officials said the technology arrived in Belthangady on Monday and will be used on Tuesday to check for possible human remains without immediate digging. 'This is a non-invasive method that can give us a clearer idea of what lies underground before we begin digging. Spot 13 has posed challenges because of its location near a dam, multiple power lines, and the main road. The GPR will help us decide if exhumation here is even possible,' an officer who did not want to be named explained. Investigators have dug at 15 marked spots so far, recovering human remains only at spot 6. At another location near spot 11 — now reclassified as spot 14 — a skull and bones were found on the surface. The Dharmasthala mass burial case stems from serious allegations made by a former sanitation worker, who claimed he was ordered to bury multiple bodies near the river between 1995 and 2014, including those of women and girls who he believed had been sexually abused. He has guided officials from multiple government departments to specific locations, offering detailed descriptions of each site. A complaint was lodged on July 3 and an FIR was registered a day later.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Colleges in coastal dist mandate uniforms for all PG programmes
Mangaluru: Educational institutions across coastal districts are now rigorously enforcing uniform, notably extending mandatory dress codes for all postgraduate (PG) programmes. Previously, formal attire like blazers was primarily restricted to MBA students, but now courses including MCA, MSc, MA, and others are also covered. In medical and allied health sciences courses, scrubs have become mandatory, and this development started post-Covid. Managements say that the move aims to cultivate a more disciplined academic environment and enhance professional grooming for the corporate world. Initially, the uniforms were required for a day or two in the week, but now it has been increased to a maximum of five days a week. "The reason we have made uniforms mandatory for all the PG students is that candidates will be entering their professional life soon after finishing the course. The corporate world or the work environment requires decency in dressing and grooming, and this exercise at the PG level helps them with it. The medical field, where earlier PG students were allowed casual dress, now mandates wearing scrubs post-Covid," said Dr M Vijayakumar, vice-chancellor of Yenepoya (Deemed to be University). Another college head mentioned that wearing a blazer and tie, or other attire that aligns with corporate culture, helps candidates easily adapt to workplace dress codes while still in college. "It becomes challenging for a candidate to adjust to wearing formal attire like a blazer and tie at work if it hasn't been a habit during their college years. It makes them bold and confident," said Vishwanath P, principal of SDM College, Ujire. Initially, the college started with two days of uniforms for PG courses, and now it is extended to five days, and on Saturdays, they are allowed to wear casual attire. This is the practice in many other colleges as well. Also, a few colleges have t-shirts as uniforms. Some colleges started uniforms replacing casual dress after requests from parents and students. For example, St Agnes College, which started uniforms for UG students in 2008, slowly extended it to PG courses too. Sr Venessa, principal of the college, said that uniform makes everyone equal, whether a student is rich or economically backward. "We started wearing uniforms only after requests from students and their parents," she said. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Ayurvedic treatment available on the coast model for the world: Laxmi Hebbalkar
Mangaluru: The ayurvedic treatment of the undivided Dakshina Kannada district has become a model for the entire world. Ayurveda has a history of 5,000 years, and the entire country has embraced ayurvedic treatment, said Laxmi Hebbalkar, minister for women and child was speaking at the inauguration of a new state-of-the-art diagnostic unit at Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara (SDM) College of Ayurveda Hospital & Research Centre, at Kuthpady in Udupi, on Saturday. The minister said the SDM College is conducting excellent research in ayurveda across the country."I used to visit SDM College in Ujire every year with my family for ayurvedic treatment. Now, we go to the same institution's Kshemavana near Bengaluru. Ayurvedic treatment is soothing to the mind," Hebbalkar said, adding that recently, there has been more trust in ayurveda compared to the north Karnataka region, there is a large number of devotees for Lord Manjunatha of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala. "Manjunatha signifies such deep faith and devotion," she this occasion, college principal Dr Mamatha KV, medical superintendent Dr Nagaraj S, college director Prasanna Rao, head of pharmacy department Muralidhar Ballal, and other staff members were present. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Mother's Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
