Protest erupts after youth goes missing in Farangipete
Mangaluru (Karnataka), Mar 1 (PTI): A 19-year-old youth was found missing since February 25 and according to family members, he had left home saying he was going to a temple but did not return, raising suspicions about his disappearance.
Diganth was a resident of Amemar village in Farangipete.
This incident erupted into a public outcry on Saturday and organisations like Vishwa Hindu Parishad and its leaders took to the roads protesting and alleging police inaction.
Members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad visited Diganth's residence and expressed solidarity with his family. Alleging police inaction, local residents staged a spontaneous shutdown in Farangipete from early morning, demanding a thorough investigation into the case.
Protesters claimed that Diganth's disappearance might be linked to local drug cartels and accused the police of failing to conduct a proper inquiry.
As tensions escalated, demonstrators expressed anger against the government, urging authorities to ensure a fair probe.
Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta, MLA V Bharat Shetty, and leaders of Hindu organisations participated in the protest.
It is deeply disturbing that it’s been five days since Master Diganth has gone missing…but there has been no fruitful effort to find him.
— Captain Brijesh Chowta ಕ್ಯಾಪ್ಟನ್ ಬ್ರಿಜೇಶ್ ಚೌಟ (@CaptBrijesh) March 1, 2025
Joined our party leaders, karyakartas & the people of Farangipete in demanding swift investigation to trace him at the earliest. pic.twitter.com/IpHPoqeoCX
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
