Mangalore This Week : Aug 19 - 26
Weekly Round-up by Anisa Fathima - Daijiworld.com - Mangalore
Aug 26: Did anyone say crime rate in the district has come down? Well, going through the happenings of the week, one wouldn't want to believe it. Mangalore this week was witness to a variety of crimes - from cyber raids to Naxal attacks to the gruesome murder of a journalist, we had it all in just a week. Of course, there were a few things to cheer about too.
Cyber raids are an oft-repeated operation by the police and each raid has resulted in several arrests. On Sunday August 22, the police conducted raids at five cyber centres to verify the adherence to the law relating to pornography and Information Technology arresting six people and seizing computers.
In spite of several such raids by the police in the past, many cyber centres continue to flout the rules. The Internet is a powerful medium which should be used for information and education, an aspect that is totally forgotten and undesirable sides of it are taking precedence. Cyber cafe-owners also are partly responsible for this misuse of the Internet, which they indulge in to keep their cash registers busy.
Read more:
Mangalore: Surprise Raid on Cyber Centres – Six Arrested
The news that rocked headlines this week was the horrific murder of Hai Maruta editor Hitendra Prasad on Monday August 21 night in Manipal.. Two days after he was attacked and killed, police arrested four members of Pitti Nagesh gang who confessed to the crime.
The murder once again brings forth the big bad world of crime and the risks involved in yellow journalism. It is a sad spectacle to observe that more and more youngsters, in many cases those in the age-group 18 to 28 years, are found to work for the underworld. This is a serious problem which should be addressed by social scientists and community leaders.
It will be interesting to see how many worms are let out of the can when the police nab the still-absconding Pitti Nagesh.
Read the complete story :
Udupi: Hitendra Prasad Murder - Accused Remanded to Judicial Custody
Meanwhile, the Dakshina Kannada police continued to shine. It was a matter of honour and pride when the DK police blog was chosen for the egov Award for Innovation for the year 2006 by the egov magazine, the only monthly publication about e-governance.
The DK police blog has become very popular, especially because of the personal interest present superintendent of police B Dayananda has been showing in the matter. That has inspired the Udupi police also to launch their own blog.
Speaking to Daijiworld correspondent recently, the SP gratefully acknowledged the role Daijiworld has played in giving wide publicity to the blog the world over.
Read more
Mangalore: DK Police Blog Bags egov Award for Innovation
Nevertheless, terror continued to strike the twin districts as a group of 10-12 Naxalites attacked a forest department office at Kerekatte near Shringeri in the early hours of Wednesday August 23, destroying all records while setting a jeep on fire.
It is a sad fact that none of the efforts of police has succeeded in ridding the region of Naxal activities. While there is no denying the fact that any act of violence is against the law, it should also be borne in mind that the rise of Naxalism has been given a boost by the economic inequity, social injustice, corruption and various other perils. Until the authorities get to the root of the problem from which Naxalism casts its head, no amount of police patrol is going to help.
Read more
Karkala: Naxals on Prowl - Ransack Forest Dept Office, Burn Jeep at Kerekatte
A week of crime wouldn’t be complete without a crime against the fairer sex. Safety of women has been a growing cause for concern for years and this fact was once again evident when a 28-year-old man Girish attempted to rape a 12-year-old girl who was incidentally his neighbour.
If earlier it was exploitation of women, now there are rising cases of exploitation of the girl child. Perhaps the way the culprits are walking out of the courts scot-free and laxity of our laws are the reasons for a notion getting set in the minds of prospective offenders that one can get away with crime. After all, at the end of long-drawn court cases, not many get punished. If the punishment is awarded without fail in cases of such crimes, perhaps it could serve as a deterrent for persons with a criminal bent of mind.
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Mangalore: Rape Attempt on 12-year-old Girl - Case Filed on Neighbouring Young Man
Perhaps the only word of cheer we heard during the week apart from the police blog's achievement was the news of the prospects of Mangalore getting its first Sky Bus. The proposal to introduce Sky Bus facility was made on August 24 and the project would be developed by Konkan Railway Corporation.
Though the introduction of Sky Bus may help in reducing traffic in the city and would even boost Mangalore's image as a developing city, it has to be admitted that the plan does look highly ambitious. The project needs a lot of land on the sides of the existing roads. Already the highways are all along dotted with houses and commercial complexes, which would have to be demolished for the Sky Bus project. How many owners of such constructions would be ready to sacrifice them is the moot question.
Read more
Mangalore Gets Ready for Sky Bus
The week ended with another incident that blotted the district's image. The headmistress of a school in Beltangady was reported to have been coming to school drunk every day. Not only that, she would even tell the students to fetch arrack for her! Indeed a shameful act.
The teachers are the ones expected to mould the character of the students. What values can such teachers instill among the students? As a matter of a vicious circle, is it to be deemed that the teacher in question herself did not have the good fortune of being taught by good teachers? Whatever be the case, a school teacher, especially the headmistress is expected to show a certain amount of responsibility and dignity.
Read more
Beltangady: Teacher Comes Drunk to School - TP Members Demand Suspension
So that's it for this week. Here's hoping the week ahead would bring us some cheer and relief from the bleakness of the past week!
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