Ram Temple inauguration: Security beefed up in Mangaluru
Mangaluru (PTI): Ahead of the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Monday, comprehensive security arrangements have been made in Mangaluru city to ensure the smooth conduct of associated events and to prevent any untoward incidents.
The Mangaluru city police commissionerate, in a communique said precautionary measures have been taken to uphold public interest and maintain law and order.
A total of 186 places have been identified within the commissionerate limits where poojas and religious functions have been planned.
Adequate staff and officers are deployed round the clock at 131 sensitive places and picketing points within the city limits. A total of 57 vehicles (sector mobiles) have been employed to make continuous rounds within the city and immediately attend any event.
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Checkpoints have been set up at 14 points in the city to attend to exigencies. Special rounds have been planned during the early morning and late-night hours. Anti-sabotage checks will be carried out at important places within the city involving large gatherings of people.
In keeping with practice elsewhere in the state, no permission has been given to hold any kind of procession or rally. Peace committee meetings have already been conducted at all police stations under the leadership of respective ACPs.
Area domination exercises and route marches are being conducted at multiple places within the city to instil confidence in the minds of the people. A proposal has been sent to the Deputy Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada district, for the closure of bars and wine shops on January 21 and 22.
A total of three DCPs, six ACPs, 11 inspectors, 37 PSIs and 781 police personnel of various ranks have been deployed as part of the measures, the communique said.
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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.
