Kundapur: 24 year-old woman injured in Leopard attack
Kundapur: A 24-year-old woman was on Monday attacked by a leopard at Subbannakere near Kumbadi Mandadi junction here.
Prema Bandi (24), the victim is now being treated at Udupi district hospital for severe face and neck injuries of the attack.
Prema left from her home in the morning to deliver milk at Japti Milk Producers’ Association in Karikal. On her way, she was attacked by the wild cat on the road.
Prema sustained injuries on face, ears and eyes in the attack. She fell onto the ground with bleeding face when the local residents rushed to her rescue. The leopard then escaped from the scene and local rushed Prema to Kundapur hospital. She was later shifted to Udupi district hospital for further treatment.
Kundapur Forest Officer Prabhakar Kulal and sub-divisional forest officer Uday also arrived at the spot.
JK Mahabal Naik, Vice President of Milk Producer’s association said that leopards normally live on the outskirts of Kundapur and roars of wild animals can be heard during the night. He added that a few dogs have also been killed by wild cats in past few years.
“There are women who go to deliver milk early in the morning to homes, and with such attacks it is not safe for them. Forest officials should immediately look into the matter and resolve this issue” Secretary of the association Venkatesh said.
Kundapur Zonal Forest Officer Prabhakar Kulal assured action and said that two traps have been placed to trap the leopard, which also include a caged dog to attract the leopard. “We have laid two traps already, more will be placed if necessary. We will also provide relief for the treatment of Prema from the forest department” he said.
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Campaign Against Hate Speech calls for action against Chandrashekar Swamiji for hate speech
Bengaluru: Campaign Against Hate Speech, a collective of lawyers, activists, and concerned citizens, has urged Karnataka’s Home Minister, Shri Parameshwara G, and Director General of Police, Dr. Alok Mohan, to take legal action against Chandrashekar Swamiji, the seer of Vishwa Vokkaligara Mahasamsthana Mutt. The demand follows an alleged hate speech made by the seer during a protest organized by the Bharatiya Kisan Union at Freedom Park on November 26, 2024.
The organization claimed that the speech was divisive and aimed at spreading communal hatred and enmity between communities. Chandrashekar Swamiji allegedly made inflammatory remarks, including false claims about the authority of the Waqf Board and a controversial suggestion that Muslims in India should be stripped of their voting rights. The speech, delivered to a large audience, has since been uploaded to YouTube by TV9 Kannada, amassing over 6,900 views.
The organization provided excerpts of the speech, which they say falsely accused the Waqf Board of arbitrarily taking over properties, including farmland, and asserted that minorities in Pakistan do not have voting rights. These remarks, they argued, not only mislead the public but also incite hostility against the Muslim community and misrepresent the functioning of the Waqf Board. The statement suggesting that Muslims should be denied voting rights was described as unconstitutional and harmful to the secular and democratic values of the country.
In their letter, the collective highlighted specific sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (formerly the IPC) that they believe the speech violates. These include provisions against promoting enmity between communities, making assertions prejudicial to national integration, and spreading false or alarming information intended to incite hatred. They also pointed out that comments on the video supported the seer’s views, reflecting the potential for real-world consequences stemming from the speech.
While Chandrashekar Swamiji has since issued a written apology, Campaign Against Hate Speech argued that it is insufficient. The apology has not been widely circulated, while the original speech continues to be shared online, further amplifying its divisive message.
The organization has requested legal action against the seer and restrictions on the offensive video. They have also called for a broader public awareness campaign to educate people about the legal and social consequences of hate speech. Additionally, they suggested that the upcoming winter session of the Karnataka Assembly address the growing issue of hate speech comprehensively.
The letter underscored the importance of preserving Karnataka’s identity as a “garden of peace for all communities,” as envisioned by Rashtrakavi Kuvempu. Citing Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s vision of democracy as a mode of “associated living,” they stressed that such remarks not only threaten a specific community but also undermine the foundational values of the nation.
