Angry locals stage protest against police department, authorities over road accidents in Mangaluru
Demand immediate removal of signal at Kankanady Junction, blame cops for death of woman on Thursday
Mangaluru: Locals in Mangaluru on Thursday staged a protest against the police department and local administration over their failure in administering and regulating traffic at key junctions in the city. The protest was staged after a 55-year-old woman died on the spot after being mowed down by a private bus at Bendoorwell Junction here.
Angry protesters threatened to block the Bendorwell Junction and Kankanady Junction if their demands of suspending the signal at Kankanady Junction, pasting Zebra crossing, and laying speed breakers were not met immediately.
The protesters, led by a few youngsters asserted that the signal at Kankanady Junction was unscientifically installed recently after the new police commissioner took charge. They also added that several road diversions and traffic regulations were undertaken unscientifically leading to rise in the number of accidents and deaths.
The death of the woman today was the second of its kind in less than a week. Earlier an 11-year-old kid died on the spot after falling off a two-wheeler after it was hit by a private bus.
“In order to escape the red light on Kankanady Junction, the private bus driver cruise through the Bendoorwell Junction without bothering about the pedestrians and two-wheelers here,” the protesters claimed, adding that the signal at Kankanady Junction should be immediately removed and the traffic should be managed manually by policemen.
"Nobody has come now to listen to our demands, not even the MLA. The same people will come begging for votes during the election and then they will not care about the grievances of the people. We are only demanding our safety, for how long we should be walking on the road with fear of being mowed down by a private bus in the city?" one of the protesters questioned.
"Only the police department and authorities are to be blamed for these deaths. We have seen six people dying at this junction alone in the last six months," they further added.
The protesters also demanded that the Police Commissioner visit the spot and look at their grievances. The top cop however supplemented his subordinates who reached the spot and tried to pacify the crowd.
Former MLA Moideen Bawa and others also reached the spot and extended support to the protesters and their demands. Bawa made several attempts to pacify the crowd, but they persisted with their demand to meet Police Commissioner at the spot. Bawa urged Police Commissioner to reach the spot but the latter expressed his inability to visit the spot due to his other engagements.
Bawa then arranged a meeting with Police Commissioner and returned to the spot. He added that the Police Commissioner and other top officials would come to the spot later at 6 pm as they were busy on election duty.
ACP Mahesh Kumar and other police officials were also present at the protesting site. Kumar noted all the demands of the protesters and assured them that their demands would be considered and appropriate measures will be undertaken. He however added that removing the signal from Kankanady Junction was not an appropriate solution to the problem.
The protesters also expressed their discontent with Police Commissioner failing to reach out to the people when they demand and asserted that being a public servant the top cop should have immediately reached the spot and paid heed to the grievances of the public.
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Belagavi: UT Khader lauds Munawwar Zama's Four-Pillar Education Model
Hubballi/Belagavi: Eminent motivational speaker and educationist Munawar Zama delivered the keynote address at the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Sana Group of Institutions, held at the Presidency Club in Belagavi. The event brought together management heads and senior representatives of educational institutions from across North Karnataka.
The programme was attended by several dignitaries, including U. T. Khader, Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, B. Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, Minister for Housing, Waqf and Minority Welfare, and Naseer Ahmed, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister of Karnataka. During the event, Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan felicitated Munawar Zama in recognition of his contribution to education and youth development.
In his address, Munawar Zama spoke on the importance of effective management and coordination in educational institutions. He presented what he described as a “four-pillar” model of education, comparing an institution to a vehicle that requires all four wheels to function smoothly. According to him, the four essential pillars are management, teachers, parents and students, and imbalance among any of these can affect the overall progress of an institution.
Explaining the role of management, he said leadership plays a central role in shaping the vision, governance standards, infrastructure and learning environment of an institution. He emphasised the need for transparent systems and long-term planning to sustain academic quality and public trust.
He described teachers as the backbone of the education system, noting that their role extends beyond academics to shaping students’ values, confidence and character. He said motivated teachers, supported through professional development and institutional backing, help create an environment that encourages discipline, curiosity and critical thinking.
On the role of parents, Munawar Zama said education is a shared responsibility. He stressed that parental involvement strengthens coordination with teachers and helps reinforce positive habits and values in students. Students, he said, remain the central focus of the educational ecosystem, and their attitude towards learning and growth determines the effectiveness of collective efforts.
He also highlighted the importance of mathematics, urging students to build a strong foundation in the subject regardless of their chosen fields. According to him, mathematics helps develop logical reasoning, analytical skills and structured problem-solving abilities that are relevant across professions.
Speaking on the occasion, Speaker U. T. Khader lauded Munawar Zama’s four-pillar education model, describing it as practical and relevant to the current needs of the education system. He said the framework clearly highlighted the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in building strong and effective educational institutions.
Participants, particularly institutional heads, said the four-pillar framework encouraged reflection on collective responsibility and balanced participation in education.
As part of its Silver Jubilee celebrations, the Sana Group of Institutions, based in Hubballi, organised the North Karnataka Educational Summit 2025. The institution is led by Chairman Mohammed Hussain Malagi, Managing Trustee Ashraf Ali Bashir Ahamed, and Executive Trustees Ayub Savanur, Mohammed Tariq Mujahid and Khalid Malagi.
A key outcome of the summit was the decision to form the Association for Advancement of Minority Institutions, North Karnataka (AAMINK). The association aims to work collectively on educational, administrative and legal issues, with the objective of strengthening minority institutions through cooperation and shared representation.
The Silver Jubilee celebrations concluded with discussions on institutional development and long-term strategies for improving education across the region.
