Disdain Hindu religion for respectful life, scholar Narayan Manur tells Dalits
Udupi: "The only way for Dalits to lead a respectful life with peace, self-esteem and free from humiliating mentality of untouchability is to reject the Hindu religion and embrace Buddhism followed by Dr. BR Ambedkar”, opined Dalit scholar Narayana Manur.
Addressing the agitators who staged an agitation at Ajjarakadu here on Saturday led by the Federation of Karnataka Dalit Sangharsh Samiti and Dalita Damanitara Swabhimani Horata Samiti, condemning the naked parade of a Dalit youth in Gundlupete taluk and widespread atrocity on Dalits across the country, Manur said that “Manu followers have been conspiring to divide the backward classes, Dalits and minorities. Dalits should reject the Hindu religion which denies them entry into temples and throw the photos of gods and goddesses which you worship at home into sewage”, he said.
Scholar G Rajashekhar said that injustice of caste system was so terrible. The Hindu religion which is answerable to such an atrocity on Dalit youth has been engineering such terrible and ghastly activities in many places which is uncalled for, he said.
Rev. Fr. William Martis, Dalit leader Shekhar Hejamadi, CPM district secretary Balakrishna Shetty, Shamaraj Birthi of Action Committee, DSS leaders S Narayan, Vasunejaru and others were present.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
