Threats to 15 writers, philosophers in Karnataka: Home Minister orders DG&IGP to provide protection
Bengaluru: More than 15 prominent senior writers and thinkers in Karnataka have united to express their concern over receiving death threats, prompting them to appeal to Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara for immediate action. The delegation of intellectuals, who have been steadfastly advocating against fascism, casteism, and blind faith, has urged the government to address this issue promptly.
Addressing the matter, Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara informed reporters that he had been contacted by the group of writers seeking an audience. He further disclosed that he had directed Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) Alok Mohan and Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B Dayananda to ensure the safety of the writers and thinkers. This measure has been taken in light of previous incidents within the state that have raised concerns about the security of intellectual voices.
In a formal letter to the Home Minister, Prof. K Marulasiddappa, representing the collective of writers and thinkers, highlighted their consistent efforts to combat social issues and ideological challenges. Prof. Marulasiddappa communicated that since June 2022, the group has been receiving letters containing death threats, causing heightened tension and emotional distress among them. The fear of potential attacks at any unforeseen moment has placed them under constant apprehension.
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Notable figures within the group, including Prof. SG Siddaramaiah, Banjagere Jayaprakash, Vasundhara Bhoopathi, and Kum. Veerabhadrappa, have all reportedly received similar death threats. In light of the gravity of the situation, Prof. Marulasiddappa appealed to the government to treat the matter with utmost seriousness and initiate necessary actions to address the threats and ensure the safety of those targeted.
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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.
