Undertrial prisoner found dead in Mangaluru Sub-Jail
Mangaluru (Karnataka), Mar 16 (PTI): An undertrial prisoner allegedly died by suicide at Mangaluru Sub-Jail in the early hours of Sunday, police said.
The incident occurred between 4:05 AM and 4:55 AM, they said.
The deceased, identified as Prakash Gopal Moolya (43), a resident of Hudco Colony, Moodbidri, was in judicial custody under UTP No. 308/2025 in connection with the POCSO case registered at Moodbidri Police Station, police said.
According to the police, he was arrested on March 11 under Section 65 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Sections 4 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Authorities said Moolya was found hanging from the window grill in the toilet of Barrack 'B', Cell No. 2, using a towel. Jail staff immediately shifted him to Government Wenlock Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.
A case has been registered at Barke Police Station as per Section 194(4) of the BNSS, 2023. Further legal proceedings are underway, police said.
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BJP accuses Karnataka govt of 'failing' to prevent noise pollution caused by 'azaan'
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): Members of the Opposition BJP on Tuesday slammed the Karnataka government for not taking measures to prevent the alleged noise pollution caused by 'azaan', the Islamic call to prayer.
BJP MLC D S Arun raised the issue in the Legislative Council during the question hour, accusing the ruling Congress of "appeasement" by failing to take action against mosques that are violating the Supreme Court's directives.
Karnataka Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Eshwar Khandre, responding to the question, said, as per the directives of the Supreme Court in sensitive zones, the noise level should not exceed 50 decibels during the day and 40 decibels at night, and in residential areas, 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night.
In commercial areas, the noise should not exceed 65 decibels during the day, 55 at night, and in industrial areas, 75 during the day and at night 70 decibels, he said.
Pointing out that the Karnataka government had issued an order in 2022, assigning responsibility to a committee headed by a DySPs or ACPs for the effective implementation of the rules, the minister said when a complaint is received about noise pollution, the Pollution Control Board will inspect it and provide information about the decibel level to the police to take further action, including filing of criminal cases.
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"Not only during azaan, but also during bhajans held in temples and marriage events, among others, the violations happen. There is a need to spread awareness. The Supreme Court has ordered against bursting firecrackers, but it is being violated. Efforts will be made to implement the rules effectively," he said.
Several BJP MLAs, including Arun, Bharathi Shetty, among others, were not satisfied with the minister's reply. They took strong exception to it.
Arun noted that in the last three years, only 52 cases have been taken, and said there are clear violations by almost all mosques, but no action has been taken. "The decibels have in fact increased under this government. The government is giving protection to them."
Reacting to this, Khandre, calling it a "sensitive matter", said, "It is not right to politicise the issue. The law of this land is equal for everyone."
Hitting back, Arun asked, "Why is the matter sensitive? What is preventing you (the government) from implementing the Supreme Court directives?"
