Bhim Army protests delay in arrest of Kannada actor Upendra over remarks against Dalits
Bengaluru: Demonstrators from the Bhim Army staged a protest outside the Halasur Gate Police Station near Town Hall on Thursday, expressing their dissatisfaction over the perceived delay in the arrest of popular Kannada film actor Upendra. The actor is accused of making derogatory statements against Dalit communities during an interaction with his fans on Facebook.
The protestors also issued a threat to besiege the residence of Karnataka's Home Minister, Dr. G Parameshwara, if action is not taken against Upendra.
Speaking to the gathering, Bhim Army leader Rajashekhar highlighted the concern that Upendra had not been taken into custody more than 48 hours following the registration of the case against him. Rajashekhar drew attention to the standard practice of arresting an individual within 24 hours after an FIR is filed. However, he criticized the police's purported hesitation to act, asserting that they had not received instructions from their superiors to apprehend Upendra.
Rajashekhar further expressed his condemnation of the perceived favoritism shown towards Upendra due to his popularity, describing this delay in arrest as a manifestation of injustice towards the general populace. In a stern warning, he announced that if immediate action was not taken to arrest Upendra, members representing various Dalit organizations would initiate a siege at the residence of Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Thumbay Group begins work on Sharjah’s first private integrated psychiatric, rehabilitation hospital
Sharjah: Thumbay Group has laid the foundation stone for the Thumbay Psychiatric and Rehabilitation Hospital at Sharjah Healthcare City, a 120-bed facility that the company says will be the region’s first private, fully integrated hospital dedicated to psychiatric care, neuro-rehabilitation and addiction recovery.
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by Dr. Abdelaziz Saeed Al Mheiri, who is also a member of the Sharjah Executive Council, in the presence of Dr. Thumbay Moideen.
Spread across 110,000 square feet, the hospital is being developed to address growing demand for specialised mental health and rehabilitation services in the UAE and the wider Gulf region.
The facility will include inpatient and outpatient services in psychiatry, neuro-rehabilitation, addiction treatment, child and adolescent mental health, and care for mood and anxiety disorders. It will also feature VIP inpatient villas designed to provide privacy and support long-term recovery.
A mosque, named the Thumbay Masjid, will be constructed within the campus and will be open to the public.
The hospital is being designed to meet standards for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), an internationally recognised accreditation system for rehabilitation facilities.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Abdelaziz Saeed Al Mheiri said the project reflects Sharjah’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure in all aspects of wellbeing.
“Mental health and rehabilitation have long needed dedicated infrastructure, and we are proud to support a private partner whose vision matches the ambition of this Emirate,” he said.
Dr. Thumbay Moideen said the project was a response to a growing need for specialised mental healthcare services in the region.
“We have spent over three decades building healthcare in this region, and the one conversation that has grown louder every year is mental health. Families have been carrying this quietly for too long. This hospital is our answer. It is purpose-built, not retrofitted, and it has been designed around dignity, recovery, and outcomes that families can trust,” he said.
Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2026, and the hospital is expected to become operational by mid-2027.
Once completed, the facility will become part of Thumbay Group’s network of healthcare, education and diagnostic institutions across the UAE.
