Udupi, February 4: The state government has transferred Udupi Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis as the Director of the Tourism Department with immediate effect.

In her place, the government has transferred, Hubballi-Dharwad Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) managing director Hephsiba Rani Korlapati.

Priyanka Mary had taken over charge as the Udupi Zilla Panchayat CEO on November 10, 2015 and she took charge as the Deputy Commissioner of Udupi after the transfer of then Deputy Commissioner T Venkatesh on February 21, 2017.

After taking charge as the DC, she has taken steps to check illegal sand mining and transportation. When she, along with Kundapura AC Shilpa Nag and team went to Kandlur in Kundapura police station limits to inspect the illegal sand mining on April 2, 2017, a group of around 50 of local people attacked them and tried to kill her.

 

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Nalbari: Tension prevailed in the Panigaon area of Nalbari district on December 24 after members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal allegedly entered the premises of St Mary’s School and vandalised materials prepared for Christmas celebrations.

According to local sources, activists of the VHP and Bajrang Dal entered the school campus ahead of Christmas and raised slogans inside the premises. It is alleged that Christmas-related decorations and materials kept within the school compound were damaged and set on fire.

Eyewitnesses said that members of the Bajrang Dal were the first to enter the campus, during which they allegedly raised slogans such as “Jai Shri Ram,” “Jai Hindu Rashtra,” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” and burnt items prepared for Christmas celebrations. The incident created panic among local residents and led to concerns over law and order in the area. No injuries have been reported so far.

The incident comes amid reports of similar acts in Nalbari town in recent days, where Christmas decorations displayed at several commercial establishments were allegedly set on fire.

Reacting to the incident, fact-checker Mohammed Zubair said on social media that VHP and Bajrang Dal activists entered St Mary’s School on Christmas Eve, raised slogans and destroyed Christmas decorations. His post drew attention to the incident and sparked wider discussion online.

Police have not yet issued an official statement on the incident. Further details are awaited.